Joseph Anyaegbunam | Software Developer

Sometimes the best programming insights come from the most unexpected places. Before diving into the world of software development, I spent several years as a youth mentor at Livingstone Initiative in Lagos. Little did I know that teaching teenagers life skills would profoundly influence how I write code today.

The "But Why?" Principle

Every mentor knows that teenagers have an uncanny ability to question everything. "But why do I need to learn this?" "Why can't I do it my way?" Sound familiar? It's remarkably similar to code reviews where teammates ask, "But why did you structure it this way?"

This persistent questioning taught me a crucial lesson about clean code: If you can't explain your code's purpose to a curious teenager, you probably need to simplify it. Just as I learned to break down complex life lessons into digestible chunks for youth, I now break down complex functions into smaller, self-explanatory pieces.

python
1# Before: The "teenager would definitely ask why" version
2def process_data(data):
3    return [x for x in [y.strip().lower() for y in data.split(',')] if x and len(x) > 2]
4
5# After: The "even a teenager would understand" version
6def process_data(data):
7    # Split the data into individual items
8    items = data.split(',')
9    
10    # Clean each item by removing spaces and converting to lowercase
11    cleaned_items = [item.strip().lower() for item in items]
12    
13    # Keep only valid items (non-empty and longer than 2 characters)
14    valid_items = [item for item in cleaned_items if item and len(item) > 2]
15    
16    return valid_items
17

The "Everyone Has Potential" Pattern

In mentoring, we live by the principle that everyone has potential; they just need the right guidance and opportunity. This mindset transformed how I approach code organization. Just as we create supportive environments for youth to thrive, we should create supportive code structures that allow for growth and improvement.

javascript
1// Before: The "limiting potential" approach
2function handleUserInput(input) {
3  if (input === 'specific value') {
4    // Do something very specific
5  }
6}
7
8// After: The "everyone has potential" approach
9class InputHandler {
10  constructor() {
11    this.handlers = new Map();
12  }
13
14  registerHandler(inputType, handler) {
15    this.handlers.set(inputType, handler);
16  }
17
18  handle(input) {
19    const handler = this.handlers.get(input);
20    if (handler) {
21      handler();
22    }
23  }
24}
25

The "Clear Expectations" Strategy

One of the first things you learn in youth mentoring is the importance of setting clear expectations. Teens thrive when they understand what's expected of them. Similarly, code thrives when its purpose and requirements are crystal clear.

typescript
1// Before: Unclear expectations
2interface UserData {
3  data: any;
4}
5
6// After: Clear expectations, just like house rules
7interface UserProfile {
8  name: string;
9  age: number;
10  email: string;
11  lastActive: Date;
12  preferences: {
13    theme: 'light' | 'dark';
14    notifications: boolean;
15  };
16}
17

The "Group Activity" Architecture

In mentoring, we often use group activities to build trust and solve problems collectively. This taught me the value of modular code design. Just as each youth brings unique strengths to a group activity, each module should bring specific functionality to your application.

python
1# The "everyone plays their part" approach to module design
2class MentorshipGroup:
3    def __init__(self):
4        self.activities = []
5        self.members = []
6
7    def add_activity(self, activity):
8        # Each activity has a clear purpose
9        self.activities.append(activity)
10
11    def add_member(self, member):
12        # Each member brings value
13        self.members.append(member)
14
15    def run_session(self):
16        # Orchestrate collaboration
17        for activity in self.activities:
18            activity.perform(self.members)
19

The Power of Feedback Loops

Perhaps the most valuable lesson from mentoring is the importance of continuous feedback. In youth work, feedback helps build confidence and guides improvement. In coding, this translates to writing testable code with clear feedback mechanisms.

javascript
1// The "constructive feedback" approach to error handling
2function validateUserInput(input) {
3  const feedback = {
4    isValid: true,
5    messages: [],
6    suggestions: []
7  };
8
9  if (!input.name) {
10    feedback.isValid = false;
11    feedback.messages.push('Name is required');
12    feedback.suggestions.push('Please provide your full name');
13  }
14
15  return feedback;
16}
17

Conclusion

My journey from youth mentoring to software development might seem like a leap, but the principles of building strong communities and writing clean code are surprisingly similar. Both require patience, clear communication, and a commitment to growth.

The next time you're reviewing code or designing a new feature, think about how you'd explain it to a curious teenager. If you can't, maybe it's time to refactor. After all, good code, like a strong community, should be accessible, supportive, and built to grow.

Did this unexpected connection between community building and coding resonate with you? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn or check out my projects on GitHub.