Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
rachelweaver
15,876 PointsNot sure what direction I want to go in career-wise
I originally set out to be a web designer, then a front-end developer, and now I am freelancing doing wordpress development and visual design work. I am taking an interest in VR, AI, Data Analytics, and ios UI design and development. I really like designing for ios in my spare time and i really love UI/UX design. iOS app development is completely different from what I am accustomed to but I am thinking it's the change I need to get re-motivated. Any advice? I am confused as to what my next move should be. I don't know where to start!
2 Answers
ian izaguirre
3,220 PointsWhy do you say you need to get re-motivated ? What happened that caused this before you got re motivated from iOS?
ian izaguirre
3,220 Points1.) You live in a rural area and do not see any job postings that relate to what you have been looking to do as a career path? --> I wonder if you have considered relocating if you find a job that is outside your area, is that feasible?
2.) "I have not spent much time at all on learning more css and javascript in the past 6 months. I am not sure if I need a complete change or if it's just boredom. I have learned more wordpress and more about databases though. " --> It could be 2 situations from what I can see so far. The first possibility is that you truly do not find JS or CSS interesting. That is okay, it could have been how you got introduced to other subjects that you truly find interesting like iOS. Which means it was not a waste of time, it was the way you where introduced to another related subject that intrigues you more, nothing wrong with that.
The second possibility is that you are bored with JS and CSS because you have not applied personal projects into your learning process. As you learn different languages, you should build a portfolio that displays little fun projects that you personally have made using those languages. If you have these little challenges/projects set up as goals that you want to create, then the motivation is there since you find the project you picked interesting which will drive you to learn more about JS / CSS and more. All this will be boring if you don't set up small projects to try to build since you are never really applying your knowledge. Plus, by applying your knowledge and making a portfolio to show these little projects, it helps you get ahead when it comes time to apply for jobs since you have a lot to show.
3.) "I work full-time in retail and make a decent income " --> I think your convincing yourself that you should stay in your situation? It is up to you, but there will be no inner motivation to move to another direction if you think your good with the possibility of failure, and by the way you wrote that, it seems your ok with not pursing it because there is always your plan B which is staying in retail. You need to meditate on what you truly want to do, that is the only way to sustain the motivation. It is easy to become motivated for a few weeks, the difficulty comes with finding ways to keep the motivation. That only comes with knowing what exactly your personal long term goal is.
rachelweaver
15,876 Pointsrachelweaver
15,876 PointsI have not spent much time at all on learning more css and javascript in the past 6 months. I am not sure if I need a complete change or if it's just boredom. I have learned more wordpress and more about databases though. I just feel unmotivated because I am having a very hard time finding a steady workflow(I live in a very rural area, the nearest major city is over 500 miles away) and freelancing is just a for-fun hobby right now. I work full-time in retail and make a decent income doing so. I'm just not sure if front end development is the right fit, I have been at it for 4 years and in the last 2 I have not seen much progress. I can't even find work as a developer in my area, there are literally no job listings or even word of mouth positions.