A year ago, programming was a mystery to me—just lines of cryptic symbols that somehow made computers do incredible things. But everything changed when I got accepted into Zone01 Kisumu, marking the start of an unforgettable journey.

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The Piscine, an intense coding bootcamp, was my first real taste of programming, and it was brutal. No lectures, just problems to solve. Many nights, I stared at my screen, struggling to debug errors I didn’t understand. I wanted to quit, but I pushed through. The first time my code worked felt like magic—a small victory that fueled my passion.

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Being part of Zone01 Kisumu reshaped my thinking. I stopped seeing challenges as roadblocks and started embracing them as learning opportunities. But it wasn’t always easy—there were days I felt like an imposter, doubting if I’d ever master this skill. Still, each hurdle made me stronger, and my confidence grew. Someone asked me what’s the biggest lesson I’ve learnt about myself in programming, I answered, “I came to realize I’ll always figure it out no matter how hard it is”.

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One of my biggest milestones was winning a hackathon with my team. We built a therapy app to support survivors of gender-based violence—a project that meant so much to us. Standing on that stage, realizing we had won, was proof that perseverance pays off. More than that, it showed me the power of technology to create real change.

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That victory wasn’t just personal; it inspired others in my community. Friends and family started asking me about programming, curious to learn more. Now, I actively mentor beginners, showing them that coding isn’t just for a select few—it’s for anyone willing to learn. Seeing others get excited about tech because of me is incredibly fulfilling.
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From struggling with simple loops to confidently working with Go, JavaScript, and databases, my growth has been incredible. Programming is no longer just a skill—it’s a passion, a way of life. I know challenges will come, but I’m ready for them. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next.

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Hey Future!

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