Little Background


Let me tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Nkopuruk Samuel E. (AI Prophet). I am a student at the University of Uyo studying Computer Engineering, I am currently in my fifth year of study. I was first introduced to programming in my third (3rd) year, where we were taught Python (I am too ashamed to reveal what programming language we were taught in our second year — Qbasic — it almost killed any desire I had about programming).

It was love at first code, I became so engrossed in it I went beyond and over what our lecturer taught us and read anything and everything I could lay my hands on about python programming, and I became good at it fairly quickly.

In my search for an area of specialization using python, I taught myself web development (Backend) using Django built and uploaded websites from scratch on PythonAnywhere, Desktop development using PyQt5 (developed a Pomodoro Timer app, an Image app and several littles side ones).

I was like the typical wanderer looking for the ideal field to put roots. On a certain day I was researching where to apply for my IT (I was already in my 4th year first semester and we were going for our IT programme the next semester). I had already settled for being a Desktop developer, as I had a certain dislike for Web Development (partly due to most of my friends were going for it) and to its very easy learning curve (I needed something more challenging). I came across an article about Machine Learning (forgotten the name), it classified programming into two styles, traditional (or classical) and Machine learning.

It talked about how classical programmers have to specify every rule in their programs and that any rule not explicitly specified crashes the programs if not explicitly handled by the programmer (and that was something I readily agree to) and how ML programming eliminates that problem by making the machine learn by itself those rules! (I was astounded!)

To cut the long story short, I declined going as an Intern at a company I applied for to learn software development. I spent time searching for where I could intern as a Data Scientist, the ones I could find, their prices were so exorbitant I had to forgo them (as they were likely not looking for student interns, but business executives who wish to add data analyst to their skill set, guessing from the prices they set). So I spent my IT by myself learning and devouring everything I could from textbooks to online courses to YouTube tutorials.

I learned about Data Science Nigeria (DSN) from one of my online searches for some data science communities in Nigeria especially Uyo (no offence DSN you guys virtually have no presence here in the University of Uyo or Akwa Ibom, and I am looking forward to changing that). I highly anticipated this year AI Bootcamp qualifications and I could not wait to join to test my newly acquired ML skills besides my fellow Nigerian ML enthusiasts.

Before I go on, let me tell you a little about my psyche. I tend a little to be a megalomaniac. After my IT, I have this thought that I am among the top 30 most skilful upcoming ML enthusiasts in Nigeria (the top half of 30 mind you) and coming into this competition I was confident of being among the people to compete for the 2 million cash prize. That delusion was continuously fed as I was among the top 20 positions for the first three days. But imagine my surprise as my rank gradually decreased and my name didn’t appear on the list on the first page of the leadership board! And as much as I tried, I could do nothing to change it.

This blow has been an eye-opener for me and it has set a fire in my soul. I want to use this opportunity to thank Data Science Nigeria for giving me this tremendous opportunity to let me become aware that there are freaks out there (students or otherwise) who are better than me at ML and I now know your all names and have written them in a list and nothing will give me greater JOY than to strike your names out of the list as I surpass each and every one of you.

Thank you very much DSN, I now understand the true meaning of the saying “Someone who thinks they know everything, improves at nothing”. Complacency was my biggest obstacle but you have cured me of it by showing me that I am at the bottom of the ladder, and not only that you have set a path for me (not only me) that can enable me get to the top.

You are actually doing great. I didn’t go far in programming and I am having it tough coming back into it.

My little advice, your goal shouldn't be been better than those in your list, rather it should be been better than the you of yesterday. There's no competition in life. Just keep improving yourself and stop comparing yourself to others. That's the only way to go far in this field.

Techstar:
My little advice, your goal shouldn't be been better than those in your list, rather it should be been better than the you of yesterday. There's no competition in life. Just keep improving yourself and stop comparing yourself to others. That's the only way to go far in this field.

Nice motivational speech but doesn't work in real life.

I really love this . I'm also learning data science.. Just started out began with python.

make kaggle community your best friend

Anyone that denigrates another programming language is a BUFFOON. A big idiot and I have absolutely NO QUALMS calling this OP such names. How dare you talk down about BASIC? How dare you? It’s an old language, so damn what? Does it incorporate the all the underlying concepts of theoretical computing? Can you have arrays, pointers, linkedlists there? You bet. Can you implement the search, sort and other major algorithms with BASIC? You bet. Is it easy to do so? Definitely not but if you want ease then get the hell out of here and go and lay on your silly ass and do nothing and see if that is easier.