Hello SQL, my old friend!

So, guess what? SQL and I had this unexpected reunion, all thanks to the Data Analytics course at the Lagos Business School. I remember how immersed I was in the DataCamp website two years ago when I first picked up the SQL playbook. I had dabbled in SQL for a role that demanded some knowledge of database management systems. But then life happened, and SQL took a back seat. Fast forward to last week, and I find myself dusting off my old SQL playbook – and let me tell you, it has been a wild ride.

I started poking around with SQL again last week, and it felt like catching up with an old friend. The code, the queries – it all flooded back like a blast from the past. It was like reopening a book I had not touched in ages, each line of code a trip down memory lane, opening up the doors to memories I had locked away.

But let me be honest – it has not all been sunshine and rainbows. Getting started with SQL again threw some curveballs my way. Yet, the more challenges I encountered, the more I enjoyed the journey. 

What this whole SQL affair taught me is that learning does not have an expiration date. Skills, like good wine, get better with time. The world keeps spinning, and what was on the back burner might take the spotlight again. So, embracing this “forever student” mindset, I am diving into the quirky world of SQL once more.

Today, I joined the Data Analytics club at LBS, and as I filled out the registration form, there was a section that asked for our levels of proficiency in different areas. I considered filling in “beginner” but as I saw the criteria, I asked myself the following questions: Had I heard of the tool before, or had I just started learning? I obviously could not deny knowing my dear SQL. Had I started using the tool but had not become an expert? Again, my answer was affirmative. Eventually, I settled for intermediate; I do hope it does not come back to bite me in the foot,

In the grand scheme of things, this SQL journey has been like reconnecting with a friend who has been on an adventure. Sure, there were hiccups, but the rediscovery of old skills brought a fresh perspective. Do I think I will continue to use SQL after my journey at LBS? I think not, but then, I am a firm believer that no knowledge is useless and all knowledge eventually finds its place in the life of a person. It has just been one week of SQL being back in my life, but I am excitedly looking forward to what the next few weeks hold. PopSQL, the fancy SQL text editor that I fell in love with those two years ago is once again becoming my best friend, and I am looking forward to this friendship being rewarding.

With tools like Python and R, however, I am like a novitiate participating in their first ritual. Will it be good or will it be bad? I cannot say yet, but time, that faithful talebearer, will most certainly tell.