8/2/22
I finished up the portfolio site that I started yesterday and although it isn’t exactly what I had imagined, it still turned out to be pretty solid. I continued with the AI module and I learned about various ways to implement it in different businesses such as customer sentiment analysis, marketing, and advertising. Essentially, businesses can use AI to determine how to sell their products or services to the right people. I also continued building on my technical skills by doing a small project in Python which is the language that is most popular when analyzing data.
8/1/22
Spent the majority of my day today building out a portfolio site using all the skills that I have learned the last week. I got most of it completed but I will be spending some more time touching up certain features. After working on it for a couple hours, I decided to also start a new module on AI to give myself a small break. To my surprise, there are actually many subdivisions within the AI department. I assumed that it was all under the umbrella machine learning but turns out thats only a portion of it.
7/29/22
After learning about the various methods of creating and building a website, I was able to make a website that was fully functional but at the end of the day, that doesn’t necessarily make money. We still have to find people to buy our applications. Today, I learned about various methods of gaining client such as meeting up with local businesses who might be interested or becoming an affiliate or putting out an advertisement. Regardless of the method, the biggest thing is to put yourself out there and build up a good reputation so that when people need something done, they think of you first.
7/26/22
Wordpress is a website creation and hosting platform that is optimized and extremely easy to use. However, it is possible to create intricate and visually aesthetic websites that provide many functions. I also started looking at platforms and companies that manages all the data that goes through the websites such as SQL, mySQL, and MongoDB. This was something I really wanted to learn so I followed the long tutorial to design my own database.
7/25/22
After finishing up the HTML and CSS tutorial, I moved on to uploading web applications and hosting them. First, you have to find a domain provider and then select an available hosting domain. Then we have to decide on choosing secure vs unsecure hosting depending on what information is being given and collected on the website. Afterward, I looked over version control tools such as Git and SVN which are extremely helpful in ensuring that our changes that break something can be reverted and just a good tool in general to allow people to check over each other’s works.
7/22/22
Today, I looked into some other roles that you can work at within the technical sector, more specifically, system administrators, quality assurance engineers, product managers, and CTO. While all of these roles involve some degree of coding and competence in the technical skills, they represent the blend between the management or business side with the technical aspects. I also looked at the more technical roles such as front-end/back-end development, data architect, and web architect. These are the people who are responsible for writing out the programs that allow our apps to run.
7/21/22
Continued with web development basics today and was introduced to HTML and CSS by following a tutorial on an about me website and going through the Khan Academy. The process was pretty tough since I did not have too much experience but by following the tutorial, I was able to create a functional web application. Furthermore, I was introduced to back-end development which is basically what goes on behind the scenes on applications. It is really interesting how every application that we use daily is actually extremely intricate.
7/20/22
Today I finished up the module on product management and learned a little more about the process of Quality Assurance testing and determining product-market fits. This whole process revolves around a lot of data collection and evaluation and then making adjustments. Afterward, I began the web development module where I was introduced to front-end development. Unlike many other jobs, web development can be self-taught and a lot of companies also offer remote positions making this a very flexible job.
7/19/22
I decided to explore the product management role today since I have heard that it is crucial at large companies such as Google, Amazon, etc. From doing some of my own research and going through some of the links on the module, it has some technical aspect but it also incorporates the management and business side of things into planning, creating, and analyzing a product. I realized that product management is really just a cycle since you never fully leave a project, you have to keep going back and collect data and feedback.
7/18/22
Today, I went through several types of online trading such as forex, cryptocurrency, and REITS. Each of these has its own pros and cons and it is possible to make money off of all of them. However, there are some major differences. For instance, people who engage in the forex market usually trade larger amounts of capital since the margins are smaller. REITs are unlike the other forms since it represents some form of real estate that is generating income. Apart from learning the various types, I was introduced to some places where I can trade namely, Coinbase and Robinhood. These platforms have made it extremely easy to buy, sell, track etc.
7/15/22
Today, I went through the module that covered the ups and downs of trading stocks and cryptocurrency. First off, stocks can be extremely profitable if one knows what they are doing and a little luck is on their side. However, the key here is to be knowledgeable and proactive in doing research. Cryptocurrency, like stocks, can also be quite profitable but that's where the similarities end. Cryptocurrency is not backed by companies so it can be extremely volatile with some even swinging hundreds of percent in a day. Before beginning to trade, it is crucial to read and learn the various methods of trading and weigh the risks of each type.
7/14/22
Had less time today but still got through a couple of modules about various entrepreneurship such as negotiating, maximizing profits, and being a good leader. It is important to have a clear vision in mind and communicate that to your customers, employees, other stakeholders, etc. It is also important to use various sales tactics and do diagnostics on your business model in order to see if there are areas of improvement.
7/13/22
Today I went over the sections about startups. I learned about the funds needed to start a startup, and ways to generate enough funding whether through public or private investments. In addition, I learned about co-founding and having multiple partners as well as how to properly exit your startup either through having a larger company acquire you or you just want to leave. I also looked over the sessions about some public speaking tips such as silence which I thought was extremely counterintuitive at first but makes a lot of sense. In presentations, people are bombarded with information but never given the time to digest it which prevents them from connecting with the content and speaker. However, by building in pauses, the audience is able to fully comprehend and catch up to the content that is being presented.
7/11/22
Today, I continued the quality of life module going over stress management along with how to find a mentor to guide us. Some things to help with stress are to smile more so that we can become more appreciative of the good in our life, choose to believe and do what we want, and lower our expectations. In terms of finding a mentor, it is essential to distinguish between a mentor and a role model. There are various sources to find mentors such as the IET Mentorship, WiSER Mentorship Program, and many more. We want to select someone who fits our needs but it is also important to recognize that they have their own lives and their time must be respected.
7/8/22
Today, I went through the quality of life module where I learned the importance of caring for someone’s physical, emotional, and mental health. In addition, I learned several financial and time management skills such as budgeting, scheduling, and focusing. All of these skills will help to make one’s life less stressful and rewarding. One of the main takeaways for me was the various platforms that people can use to help them plan their days out such as Canva, Trello, etc. Furthermore, I never put a ton of emphasis on my emotional and mental health which I will do in the future by engaging in more self-care activities such as going on walks or spending time doing things that I enjoy doing.
7/6/22
Today, I was introduced to the Techie Youth platform and completed several modules about how to navigate through the course. Overall, the course is meant to be self-guided and will help people advance their careers. After going through the introduction modules, I began learning the basics of making money online such as creating a good online profile, resume creations, and many more. It was extremely helpful to learn about all the different providers for credit cards and bank accounts since most people have different needs and the various providers offer their own perks. I am looking forward to continuing with the course this summer and graduating.