Coding Python: The Key That Opened Doors

Ever wanted to understand what all the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) was about? What about coding—ever wondered what it was like to code, or even if you were “smart enough” to do so? I did. My colleague during school suggested I learn to code using the Python programming language; he had decided to learn previously with the goal of making computer games. I was hesitant at first, as I didn’t know if I would be able to do it, but I decided to give it a shot. I had previously learned that I preferred learning through reading a textbook, so I began looking for a Python textbook that I could access online free of charge, and fortunately, I found what I was looking for. I metaphorically cracked open the book to page one and began reading.

This was during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was on break from school, so I had time to devote to learning to code without distractions from school—at least for a couple of months. I still needed to work, but during my downtime and after work, I would continue reading the online textbook, slowly learning how to become a Python programmer. I continued this way the whole summer and, if I remember correctly, continued learning when the school semester started. I don’t know how long it took me to finish the book, but when I did, I had created multiple software applications and learned to automate a plethora of tasks through the medium of my hand-coded Python programs. I had started having never coded a line before and never having used my computer's command line, and I finished having built and troubleshot multiple software applications.

This is when curiosity struck me. I wanted to figure out what this artificial intelligence thing was all about. I had heard about it on the news and on television, and now that I had acquired this new skill, I wanted to figure out if I could program my own AI application. I dredged the same internet where I had found the online textbook—the same one you’re using to read this blog post, in fact—and found plenty of Python tutorials guiding readers on how to code their own AI, along with other articles about what an artificial neural network (ANN) was. An ANN is a specific type of AI that is modeled after our brain’s visual cortex. I read through all of those tutorials and built not only AI algorithms but multiple ANNs as well.

Since then, I have developed numerous applications for personal use and for professional data analysis work, and even learned other programming languages—which was easier after having learned Python. Now, and this is where you come into the story, I want to teach you how to code using the Python programming language. I want to teach you to code starting from the ground up—even if you’ve never touched or even know what the command line is, or what Python is, for that matter. I want to teach you to create whatever you can dream of. While learning to code, I learned that what I can create is only limited by my imagination. If you can imagine it, with enough time and effort, you can create it. I want to teach you to use your computer not only as a typewriter or a place to find funny memes, but as a paintbrush you can use to build your wildest dreams. It will become a tool that you can use to surprise your colleagues and manager. When given a tedious, mindless task, you will be able to create an application to automate that task and complete it with the push of a button—where it might take someone else hours to complete each week. That is the power of Python and what I hope to teach you.

If you struggle with math and science, don’t worry—after learning to code, your logical skills will improve, and so will your tenacity. If you struggle with typing, don’t worry—that will improve as well. But you’ll also learn shortcuts to expedite your code, so you don’t need to continually type the same thing multiple times. Your reading will improve too, as you read Python tutorials and other documentation in this class.

If you’re ready to get started, leave me a comment below, or shoot me a message by clicking the “Contact” button in the top menu. Say something like, “I want to learn Python. Teach me?” and we can work out a schedule so you can start learning as soon as possible. Lessons will be taught primarily online, through Zoom, so they’re not limited by geography.

Let’s start learning together!