Running My 'First Mile' at Flatiron

Two big things to keep in mind when entering your 'First Mile' at Flatiron are communication and consistency: converse with others in your cohort, and code every day (even if it is just for 20 minutes).

Reaching out to classmates and talking through errors you may be getting on a particular lab is always a good idea if you're stuck. This conversation is mutually beneficial! If you're the one having an issue, you're likely going to get the help you need from someone who has already overcome the same obstacle. If you're the one helping somebody in need of guidance, you'll be deepening your understanding of the code by walking through it again step-by-step. It may even lead you to a new point of knowledge, or a possible refactoring of your pre-existing code.

CODE EVERY DAY. Like learning a new song on the piano or a new skateboard trick, coding every day will help develop that 'muscle memory' necessary to advance your skills. You'll find that the core basics start to come naturally when working though a lab or building out a project as each week passes. Moreover, searching for solutions to the problems you encounter will help solidify your grasp on the overall concepts.

Now that my 'First Mile' is completed, I have a new confidence in the work I'm doing. With a strong foundation of the basics we've covered, looking ahead at new material is no longer intimidating...it's exciting.