[runjake]

- Create a portfolio of projects on Github.

- Network with lots of other people locally and online. Try to be helpful and, I hate this term but, "provide value" to others.

- Potentially take on small gigs if that's your thing. If not locally, then fiverr.com or whatever the current hotness is for freelancing.

- Work on your soft skills. It's really hard to follow what you've written. Work on communicating more simply.

- The bar for entry is so low, if my area is indication. If you can write simple code on your own, without copy/pasting, you're already ahead of a small but decent chunk of professional programmers.

- Good luck, you can do it.

[mehwishh247]

Thank you so, so much for this. For all the suggestions. I will start following them hopefully without being discouraged again. And thank you for the suggestion about communication!