This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Dhokia Rinidh
My Absence
It’s been quite a while since I last posted on DEV or any tech community. It wasn’t a vacation, and I definitely didn’t plan to ghost all the awesome, collaborative folks here. The truth is—I hit a serious wall. A full-on maze of confusion that stalled my workflow.
I used to think going the self-taught route in web development was the ultimate shortcut for beginners. No degrees—just online resources, free courses, and a bit of hustling. Sounded like the magic formula. Well, yes..., but not entirely.
What I Realized
Unless you’ve got endless hours to figure out what to learn, the stamina to dive deep, and a secret potion to fight off imposter syndrome, self-teaching can hit really really hard.
Most of us are juggling jobs, studies, life... and trying to stay motivated feels like carrying water uphill in a basket. I’m working 8–9 hours a day, trying to protect my health and make time for hobbies. That’s when I made a tough call: go back to school for a degree. (Yeah, I cried a little too 😢 but the fog started lifting.)
But why? Get direct access to tutors, a structured curriculum, and a community to grow with. But wait—in a discourse with a great Uber engineer, I confirmed that even with a degree, I’ll still need to do a ton of self-learning, build projects, and contribute before I can really collaborate.
The Fear Factor
Here’s the kicker: I was afraid my online certifications wouldn’t hold much weight in interviews. It’s a huge concern for self-taught devs. That’s why I started looking for credible, recognized certifications alongside a degree—something with real validation behind it.
The Plan for the Game Ahead
So here’s where I’m at: I’m grinding toward the Meta Front-End Developer certification and pursuing a legit Computer Science degree to build credibility. But even with that, success means sticking to the grind—researching, pushing through bugs, building that portfolio from the ground up.
As usual, feel free to comment, criticize & share your opinion because in this maze, there’s no single path. Just your hustle, your code, and your courage.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Dhokia Rinidh
Dhokia Rinidh | Sciencx (2025-06-27T18:59:12+00:00) My Web Development Journey – The New Maze. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/06/27/my-web-development-journey-the-new-maze/
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