Why I Just Bought Three "Beginner" Courses — After Building 12 Production Applications

Today, I enrolled in three Udemy courses.

Spring Boot 4, Spring 7 & Hibernate for Beginners.

ASP.NET Core 10.

System Design Masterclass.

Yes, they all have "Beginner" in the title.

That wasn't a mistake.

In 2012, as a 200-level Library and Information Science student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, I paid ₦4,000 for a Java class at Kelvin Academy. I was learning Java alongside engineering and computer science students. Our first assignment was to build a calculator.

I couldn't finish it.

After struggling with bugs and trying to balance schoolwork, I gave up on programming. I still collected the certificate, but that was the end of my first attempt at tech.

A few years later, I got a job as a librarian in Yaba, Lagos. Many of our regular visitors were software developers. I admired them. They were calm, focused, and always had code open on their laptops. Watching them made me believe I could learn too.

I bought a Glo modem, replaced my faulty laptop keyboard with an external one from Computer Village, and started learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript. While looking for a programming school, one of the library users Nwankwo Success Onwuka handed me some tutorial videos and and advised me to learn by myself. George Ijidola (another library user turned friend) was equally helpful in providing mentorship and introduced me to Brad Traversy tutorials.

Today, by God's grace, I've built more than 12 production applications across FinTech, HealthTech, AgroTech, and other industries. I've also delivered more than 40 websites, including one for a first-class financial institution.

So why buy beginner courses?

Because experience teaches you what works.

Fundamentals teach you why it works.

The longer I stay in software engineering, the more I realize that real growth comes from revisiting the basics with a fresh perspective. Every time I go back, I notice concepts I once overlooked and connections I never made before.

There's another reason.

I enjoy building software, but I also enjoy teaching it. Mentoring developers and creating technical content have taught me that you can only explain something clearly when you truly understand it. Revisiting the fundamentals makes me a better engineer and a better teacher.

Looking back, it's amazing that a ₦4,000 Java class led to this journey.

From abandoning a calculator assignment...

To building software used by thousands of people.

One lesson has stayed with me throughout.

Never become too experienced to be a beginner again.

Sometimes, the next level isn't found in learning something new.

It's found in understanding something old a little better.

What's one skill you've intentionally gone back to relearn recently?

#Learning #Beginner #Mindset #Java #SpringBoot #ASP.NET #Core #Mentorship