"The End of the Beginning": An introduction to Python Machine Learning and Data Analysis
I left home as usual on Monday, August 26 and headed to class. I felt no different, the atmosphere too wasn't any different, the environment also hasn't changed a bit. Things were just the way they had been five weeks ago when I began my pre-university Python and Machine Learning class at Data Science Nigeria, and now it's the last class -Yes, I learnt python and machine learning in five weeks - and nothing feels different, except that I've got more knowledge, I've met more people - better people, I've been introduced to greener pastures. What a long way I still have to go!
It began on Monday, July 15 with a detailed, well-explained introduction to what was ahead. Mr Leke Onilude taught the introductory aspect of python in his only class session with us, it was an awesome experience, the best start you'd wish for. He helped with the installation of Anaconda navigator, which I've gradually learnt how to use well enough for a beginner level programmer, and we used it for all programming assignments during the course.
The baton was passed to Mr Emmanuel, a great teacher and programmer, who taught all he could in the short time we had. His jaunty approach and practical based form of learning made python easy, his jokes eased the pressure too.
After three weeks of coding and learning, the Data Science Nigeria team felt we were ready for the next step, Machine Learning and Data Analysis. They brought in Google AI's Sara Hooker, who gave an amazing learning experience. She began with a brief introduction, or call it biography, of herself to serve as a motivation, and it actually worked for me. Then she set the ball rolling, explaining the hardest concepts in the simplest possible way. It was an interactive session as she answered quite a handful of questions. She advised us as young programmers to always look for higher challenges, "Never be the best in the room", was her exact sentence. She was pleased to have imparted in us as she thanked us for listening and we had a photo session.
Machine Learning began the next class as Mr Yemi introduced us to the bigger world, a world outside our comfort zone, Kaggle. All he taught over his short duration of two weeks we're applied in real life situations on Kaggle.
The last class was to advise on what next after the basics, and I've surely learnt enough to know that the world out there is very competitive. And I'll stop at nothing to be the best, I'll do it against all odds, I'll be the next big deal.
