The Most Unusual Teacher & The Biggest Decision
January 2024. Mimo was done, and I realized: I still couldn't build a real website.
I understood syntax. I could solve exercises. But when I had a real project in front of me, I was lost. The gap between "solving tasks" and "building something of your own" was enormous.
So I tried something unusual.
ChatGPT had just launched, GPT-3.5 was making headlines. I simply asked it: Can you be my teacher? Give me JavaScript exercises, and when I've solved them, write me a test that builds on them.
Surprisingly, it worked. I learned faster than ever before. It was incredibly fun — a teacher who's always available, patient, and adapts to my pace.
But after two months I realized: I understand the syntax better. I can solve problems. But in a real project? In a team? With real requirements? There was still a big gap.
February. I started researching how to take the next step. One name kept coming up: the Developer Akademie.
I talked to my girlfriend about it for a long time. And she said something I haven't forgotten: "It's the first time I've ever seen you truly passionate about something."
She was right.
So I booked a consultation. I didn't just ask about the frontend course — I asked about the full package right away. Frontend and backend. Because I knew: if I really want to be good, I need to understand the whole system.
Then they told me the price.
It was the largest sum I had ever spent on anything, apart from my car. I had to swallow hard.
But I barely had to think twice.
It felt right. And so in February my frontend training began — a year full of projects, challenges and more growth than I had imagined.