Sometimes, the path you genuinely intend to follow leads you to an even more compelling destination. Earlier this year, I was actively searching for ways to level up my skills, and my sights were firmly set on the ALX Africa Cloud Computing program. I was excited to get into it and see where it would take me. Little did I know, this initial commitment—especially a mandatory module called Professional Foundations—would unexpectedly lay the groundwork for a different, yet ultimately more passionate, pursuit: Machine Learning.
If you had told me that I would be starting a Data Science course last year, I would have ignored you. I had given up on entering into the ML engineering field (+1 to impostor syndrome) and just wanted to upskill. Earlier this year, I was searching for ways to level up my skills, and my genuine interest led me to the ALX Africa Cloud Computing program.
Now a key part of every ALX course is a mandatory three-month module called Professional Foundations, where you learn professional skills to boost your career. Honestly, at first, I didn’t see the point and worried it might be a waste of time. But since I was already enrolled, I committed to completing it, and I’m genuinely glad I did.
The course turned out to be a game-changer. It pushed me to challenge my usual way of thinking and to ask questions I might have previously avoided. Being part of a diverse group exposed me to fresh perspectives that broadened my professional and personal outlook.
One concept that really stuck with me was “The Power of Yet.” This means that instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” you say “I can’t do this yet,”. That simple mindset shift opened me up to growth and possibility, rather than shutting myself down.
As I approached the point of exploring specializations, my long-standing curiosity about machine learning and re-emerged, but this time with even more intensity. After digging deeper and asking myself questions, I realized this was the direction I ultimately wanted to pursue, even over my initial path in cloud computing. Machine Learning had won my heart and the way to get it was to enroll into the Data Science course.
So, I made the switch to the Data Science track, building on the solid foundation I gained from ALX Africa’s Professional Foundations course. Now, I’m diving headfirst into data science and machine learning, excited to combine this with my software engineering background to create smarter, more impactful solutions.
For anyone still unsure, this is your sign to make that switch. Goodluck! and as ALX always says, #DoHardThings
