There’s something liberating about opening a blank code editor at 2am no deadlines, no assignment briefs, no formal lecturer watching over you.
Just you, the keyboard, and the possibility that you could build something that works.
That’s how many of my nights looked a few years ago. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I was driven by this itch to figure things out: how apps are built, how platforms are stitched together, how code can translate into something useful, something that could actually solve a problem or make someone’s life easier.
It wasn’t glamorous. In fact, it was mostly frustrating. Broken syntax. Confusing documentation. Projects that didn’t launch. And let’s not even talk about those dreaded error messages that come at the worst time.
But somehow, the process became the teacher.
Lessons in the Gaps
Here’s the thing they don’t always say loud enough:
Self-taught skills aren’t about skipping the classroom—they’re about being willing to keep going after the classroom ends.
Learning to code wasn’t just about building websites or automating a workflow. It became a gateway. A way to better understand systems, logic, and eventually people. Because real impact starts when your skills touch lives.
Today, some of the tools and apps I’ve developed have found their way into communities, classrooms, and even public use. I say that not to impress you but to reassure anyone in the middle of their learning curve that it does lead somewhere. Eventually.
The Invisible Curriculum
When you teach yourself a skill, you don’t just learn the skill. You learn how to learn, how to stay curious, how to fall without quitting, and most importantly, how to trust that your pace is enough.
You stop waiting for permission. You stop waiting for someone to certify your potential. And you start building.
That mindset has helped me across everything I do, whether it’s collaborating on national systems, guiding digital transformation efforts, or mentoring others trying to find their voice in tech and geospatial fields.
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Not every line of code I’ve written is elegant. Not every tool I’ve built is revolutionary. But the fact that I tried—and kept trying—means something.
And it will mean something for you, too.
So if you’re teaching yourself something right now, be it code, design, data, storytelling, or strategy, know this:
Your journey matters. Even the messy parts. Especially the messy parts. Because that’s where growth happens quietly.
Self-taught doesn’t mean self-made. Behind every breakthrough was a video tutorial, a GitHub thread (especially a GitClone), a helpful stranger on Stack Overflow, a community that shared freely, or a mentor that pointed me in the right direction.
So as you level up, build, and make impact and never forget to share. To pass it forward. The next generation of “late-night learners” is depending on it.
Kumbirai is a GIS & MEAL specialist using geospatial analytics to advance global health and social impact. A certified Data Protection Officer (DPO), an open-data advocate and self-taught software developer, he builds web GIS tools that turn field data into decisions. He lectures in GIS/Remote Sensing and mentors emerging practitioners. Founder of a geospatial startup and nonprofit, he believes, “Real geospatial innovation happens when we empower communities with the right tools and knowledge.” Open to consulting and collaborations.