“My name is Ronald Dosunmu, I am a 17-year-old Full Stack Software Engineer, and that is a little bit about me,” is how he starts, but the teenager’s story is rich enough to inspire the next generation, especially because he wrote his first line of code when he was only ten.
He was in JSS1 (Nigeria’s Junior Secondary Level), but it was a holiday, and he “didn’t want to be idle,” even when his mates were having a swell time playing games and hanging out.
I tried many things and stumbled upon Python. It was the first programming language I learned and I liked it. It was very interesting to see that you write a few lines of code and the computer does something.
When he got into SS2, after he had become more consistent with learning codes, and was part of a programming club. COVID-19 came and made his learning process even better. He got a scholarship/mentorship to study Data Science.
“The mentorship program stacked my knowledge in Data Science and Machine Learning, and I got really good at it. But, after then was when I decided that was not what I wanted to do,” Ronald said.
So, he started Web Development. “I started with Javascript, then I learned CSS, then React. In fact, I worked around a lot of things.”
Ronald Dosunmu’s coding experience
Right now, I have experience using Python, Javascript, HTML, CSS, and C++… and I learned everything by taking courses online.Ronald says
He says he never registered for a coding school and would encourage others to take courses instead because, on those platforms, you can determine your learning pace and commitment.
Now, Ronald is a Frontend Engineer at Devtranet and co-CTO at Ecommerce Complaint and already has a career path. Full Stack Software Engineering is a long-term plan for him, and who knows what will happen after then?
Managing academics and tech
“Academically, I am very bright to the glory of the Almighty God. In secondary school, I finished with eight A1s and a B3. In the University (Covenant University), I am on a strong CGPA,” Ronald boasts.
He argues that it is difficult managing a tech career alongside an academic career, but “give priority to what you are supposed to give priority.”
Ronald says to teen techies
His first advice is to ask young techies to find out what they like so they don’t become the ‘Jack of all trades and master of none,’ kind of individuals.
Spend two weeks, watch YouTube videos, and see what catches your fancy. A tech career is never the kind you can do half-heartedly. You need to dedicate a lot of your time and go all in. There are many fields; there is AI, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Web Development, etc. And if you want to get started in Web Development, you should probably think of HTML, CSS, and Javascript. If it’s Machine Learning, you should think of Python.”
His first advice is to ask young techies to find out what they like so they don’t become the ‘Jack of all trades and master of none,’ kind of individuals.
Spend two weeks, watch YouTube videos, and see what catches your fancy. A tech career is never the kind you can do half-heartedly. You need to dedicate a lot of your time and go all in. There are many fields; there is AI, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Web Development, etc. And if you want to get started in Web Development, you should probably think of HTML, CSS, and Javascript. If it’s Machine Learning, you should think of Python.”
