Learning - the only things I can do when I have lots of free time

Blessing in disguise

Since COVID-19 and also because I'm working as a freelance at the moment (before getting any permanent job or I might continue doing the freelance since it is much entertaining and enjoyable), I do have lots of time to utilize and improve my skill and knowledge.

Previously, when heading a team, department, or project, I spend most of my time attending meetings, doing the proposal including documentation and presentation, grooming the staff, planning, etc. I don't have enough time to sharpen my skill or learn new things. It is good if I'm staying with the company till I die, and I love to do so too. But the company doesn't really love us that much, hence I need to find a way to update myself. And the opportunity was given by Allah when I decided to reject the company's offer and accept my faith as the lone ranger @ freelance (with the hope that I can venture into challenging work in a different company).

So now, after a few months of looking for opportunities, I managed to get a free online course from Coursera (via MDEC and thank you MDEC for that). After 1 week, I have completed the first month from the complete course (a few courses within a course) and currently taking the second month (and already in the first week of the second course). The main reason of taking the course is for the certificate. I do have the knowledge, skill, and required experience to act as a data scientist and/or data engineer, but people nowadays look at your cert first before your skill and experience.

Current progress at Coursera

On top of learning the Data Sciences courses, I'm also taking extra classes on PHP. Don't get me wrong. I do have knowledge and skill to develop web apps using PHP with CakePHP, Laravel, or CI. However, the skill that I know is just enough for me to sit down with group of talented developers and lead them. I need to sharpen my skill especially on using the framework as I need to master and be able to develop on my own as freelance person.

Luckily, a friend of mine has bought that on Udemy and currently I'm already at the 21st video from the total of 405 videos (section 5 out of 52 sections)

Current progress at Udemy

And I learn new things too.. such as using Valet in Laravel and also Mechanistics analysis in Data Science :)

Valet running for laravel

well.. that's all for now.. hoping to complete the class/course soon so that I can begin my projects that I have in mind :)