Why did I decide to learn HTML & CSS?

9th December 2023

I’ve been eager to write this story for some time now and I’m happy that I have finally got around to writing it. It’s a fairly short story but one which is set over a number of years.

My aim is to provide some background about the events which led to me making the decision to learn to code. Why would someone like me end up learning to build a website? After all, I’m someone who would be considered as an unlikely candidate for web development.

By sharing a bit about myself and my route, I hope that it will go some way to alleviate any fears and preconceptions learners may have that could put them off attempting to learn web development or anything new for that matter.

It’s common to feel apprehensive about venturing into the unknown and learning something new. It’s also common to feel discouraged by believing you do not fit the usual image of a person in that role. I hope to demonstrate that many things (web development included) are accessible and achievable, regardless of your background.

Now back to the question - Why did I decide to learn HTML & CSS and what were my reasons?

It’s a question I ask myself quite often. It’s also a question I can’t answer easily. The reason being - is because there wasn’t one defining moment - or at least a moment where I remember saying to myself, “I’m going to learn to code.”

As I remember it, it was more a series of events - a gentle progression of steps leading to the decision to learn. This chain of events happened over a few years as I began venturing into the unknown and undertook some new and exciting challenges.

When I began to learn, I was a complete noob with no knowledge of programming and only basic computer skills. My first job in which I had to use a computer was back in 2004. I was computer illiterate and it showed. I knew it and the department I work in also knew this.

I left school in 1989 and the only experience I had with computers was a few lessons on a BBC Micro Model B computer. That was until the school was broken into and all five computers were stolen and never replaced.

This job brought my office/computer skills up to standard. It’s also a place where I made a very good friend who is kind enough to remind me every so often about my lack of experience at that time. As soon as I mentioned that I am learning web development, he said, “do you remember when …?”

Fast forward 10 years and I took my first steps into the world of website building. My wife, son and I had just relocated back to the UK and were living in London. I assisted my wife as she started a business. I helped out part time whilst working elsewhere and I got hands on with the marketing.

As a result of the business, I was presented with a whole new world to explore and learn which I found really interesting. The marketing side of it really got me and I enjoyed learning more about it.

It was a really good adventure and we all grew and it really opened my eyes to many new things. Things that I had never considered before or even knew existed, suddenly became really interesting and exciting.

The great thing about trying something new and being exposed to new worlds is that it can spark some kind of interest in something along the way. Funnily enough, it’s generally something that is not the main focus or the desired goal. It’s usually something on the peripheries that catches your interest and attention.That serendipitous discovery is pure gold.

Around this time I knew the business needed an online presence and so this is where I began experimenting with website builders like Wix and Squarespace. I think it was Wix that I used the most due to the benefits of their free account. If I can remember rightly, Squarespace had a free account that had an accessibility limit of 14 days. After which you were required to pay to access your account and continue the design period. This is even before the site had been deployed.

Due to circumstances out of our control, we had to relocate and start again away from London. A new place and a new project. Many years ago, my wife had designed and made a toy for our son that I and others thought was a good idea. This became my new part-time project and my goal was to get it made, tested and hopefully available to sell.

I progressed slowly with the project until 2020 when the pandemic hit. We were still living in the UK which had a series of lockdowns but it was only the first one where the whole country stopped and this when my job was put on hold. I used the time I had to really get stuck into this toy project and make some progress.

I’ve never had a career or settled in one place, country or industry long enough to lay down some roots or even develop a particular interest in anything career or hobby related.

A pattern was beginning to emerge. A pattern where I would work full time doing something not especially interesting to earn money while learning and trying something that I found fascinating, enjoyable and rewarding in my spare time.

I think this is the moment where I had discovered that I was progressing towards something but I didn’t quite know what that something was.

During the three months of lockdown, I was able to start studying and planning a strategy. I took a few marketing courses and read and educated myself about all the toy regulations.

This was also the time I signed up to some social media accounts in the toy’s name and revisited Wix and Squarespace - I even went as far as buying a domain name.

From this point onward, my recollection of the sequence of events becomes a bit hazy. I remember making decisions regarding the toy’s future and the decision to learn to build a website but not when. I do not remember how far into 2020 or 2021 these decisions were made.

I was doing well with the toy but I had run into a few issues that needed resolving and that meant going back to the drawing board to have a rethink about the materials and a possible redesign.

Around this time I was thinking that I wasn’t happy with the website builders. After doing some research on the subject, I came to the conclusion that these sites were not for me. This was not only going to cost me but I felt that I didn’t have total control over the site and that was something I didn’t like.

I wanted to have the ability to change and update the site and the idea of learning to build my own site became appealing. It would mean that I could have more control over it and I would also have the ability to change and update it any time I’d like.

And that was the moment. Just like that - I put the toy on hold. This was only meant to be a temporary pause and as soon as I had learned to build a site, I would pick up and continue from where I left off.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have accomplished what I had set out to do and I had a lot of fun along the way. I have managed to learn some new skills and a new world of possibilities has opened up before me. I’ve enjoyed the ride so much that I haven’t gotten off yet and I haven’t returned to the toy project - well not yet anyway.

And that is where I am today and the series of events which led me to start learning to code. I hope you enjoyed my story and I hope you have either started to write your own story in your chosen field or you are thinking about making some moves and beginning a new story or your own.

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes there is a possibility that while you are focused on the main task at hand, something from the periphery can catch your eye. This is what happened here. It wasn’t the destination but rather something along the journey which sparked my interest.

Time to set your sights on a destination and get lost in the journey. I promise you that the ride is totally worth it.

Thanks for reading

LTCAF