8 Months Into my Data Science Journey
And what I learned from it.
To be honest, the first 4 months were super slow, and I made almost zero progress. However, I read so many success stories on Medium and watched many Youtube videos on becoming a great data scientist from people who spent 4 years in mathematics/statistics/computer science or just graduated with a master’s in data science.
They have great insights and tips but are never specific enough for absolute beginners.
That’s me, an absolute beginner.
I meddled with R and Python a bit before but never really took the time to understand the fundamentals.
So, if you’re reading this and you’re just starting out, here’s what I want to say to you:
1. Find the Medium of learning for you
Many people on the internet emphasize FREE RESOURCES TO LEARN DATA SCIENCE. And mostly, it’s available on Youtube, like freecodecamp.
My first mistake: Too scared of spending money because I might not finish the course = money wasted.
Stop! Try MOOC websites like Coursera and Udemy. They offer great options on courses, and some offer access to a community of keen learners just like you!
Plus, you can audit the courses in Coursera, and Udemy guarantees 30-day money back if you’re not satisfied with the course you bought.
My point is not to spend money. But to explore learning options. Find the ones that you enjoy learning with.
I like the sense of progress shown on Coursera and Udemy because it gives me a sense of achievement despite only learning 30 minutes daily.
2. Create a personalized end goal
It’s a complex subject, and it is so easy to get demotivated.
Many established data scientists will say that “you’ll never stop learning in data science,” which is true. That goes for every field of knowledge.
But having a goal creates a focus.
For me, I started summarizing what I learned every Saturday and Sunday. I refuse to learn anything new. So, to recap, connect the dots and zoom out to see where I am during my journey.
I’ll share more details in another post on how I make plans to reach my data science goals.
3. Do that project now!
It’s easier to learn when you know what skills are needed for that topic of interest.
I used to follow a guideline and just tick a box when I finished a course and reviewed the assessments. Unfortunately, this created a false sense of belief that I actually understood how to use this skill that I had just acquired.
Also, it is really easy to get lost when you keep learning new information but never really know when to apply it or how to implement it.
So, research a project that piques your interest, make your game plan, learn new skills alongside completing it.
This really helps in maintaining interest in the field because it is fascinating!
I am still a beginner in the field. A baby, an infant. So, 3 simple pieces of advice are all I can offer a fellow beginner.
I hope that some of these tips can help catapult your learning, and thank you for reading!
