From Bees to Bytes: Going Back to School and Starting From Zero

Python coding

I didn’t know going back to school could be this tough. I enrolled in a diploma program with enthusiasm, but honestly, without knowing a single thing about what I was walking into.

Now I’m tackling data analytics, generative AI, Python, and machine learning. Every lesson feels like learning a new language. My classmates nod along, while I’m still catching up with the basics.

Python coding

From Avoiding Books to Loving Learning

When I was younger, studying was never my strength. I wasn’t the type to bury myself in books or chase after grades. But over time, life taught me differently.

Working with bees over the years changed the way I saw learning. Beekeeping isn’t static. The seasons change, the bees adapt, and as a beekeeper, you’re forced to keep learning, observing, and upgrading your practices if you want the hive to thrive. It’s a never-ending cycle of growth. Somewhere along the way, I realized I had grown to love that process — the discipline of constant learning. That mindset is now what carries me through this new academic journey.

Life experience doesn’t automatically translate into classroom success. When you’re staring at a blank Python script, your past achievements don’t fill it in. When the lecturer explains supervised versus unsupervised learning, no amount of business wisdom helps you grasp the math. It’s like starting from zero, plain and simple.

The Challenge of New Terrain

Data analytics pushes me to think in rows, columns, and queries. Generative AI asks me to understand how prompts shape outcomes. Python is unforgiving when you miss a colon. Machine learning introduces theories that feel abstract until you realise they power Netflix recommendations or medical diagnostics.

Each subject could take years to master. I’m learning them all at once. Some days it feels like drinking from a firehose.

Why I Keep Going

But struggle isn’t failure. Struggle is proof that I’m moving forward. Every time I clean a messy dataset or finally get a script to run, it feels like unlocking a hidden treasure.

And here’s the advantage we have today: back in my school days, there was no AI to guide us, explain concepts, or debug code. Now, I can lean on AI like a study partner. It doesn’t make the work effortless, but it makes the journey less lonely — like having a mentor on call, anytime I need.

Final Thoughts

What bees taught me still applies here: growth is about persistence. The hive thrives because bees never stop learning, adjusting, and improving. I’m trying to approach my studies the same way.

Going back to school at this stage isn’t about chasing grades. It’s about proving that I can adapt, upgrade myself, and keep learning — no matter how foreign the subject matter feels.

I’m not at the finish line yet. But I’ve started. And in itself, that’s a small victory worth celebrating.