This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Vin Lawz

Why I’m Learning React: Guided by My Mentor, Focused on My Future

In every developer’s journey, there comes a point where you feel the need to step up — to build faster, more dynamic, and more interactive user interfaces. That moment just arrived for me.

My Mentor’s Guidance

Recently, my mentor — someone I deeply respect and learn from — began guiding me into the world of React.js. Instead of just hearing about it, I’m now being shown the path directly by someone who has walked it. Via https://react.dev/learn

React has always sounded cool, but now I understand why it matters:

• It’s component-based, so I can reuse code easily.
• It allows me to build fast and responsive interfaces.
• It pairs perfectly with what I already use — Django for the backend.

Why React?

As someone who’s been building with Django and Python, I realized the frontend is just as powerful as the backend. And React gives me:

• Speed: Changes happen without reloading the page.
• Flexibility: I can create UI components that are reusable and manageable.
• Demand: Most modern web apps use React — from startups to big tech.
• Power: When combined with Django APIs, I can build full-stack applications that are both beautiful and functional.

My Mission with React

With my mentor guiding me, my goal is to:

• Learn React fundamentals (JSX, Components, Props, State)
• Practice with small projects (To-do app, dashboards)
• Connect React with Django REST APIs
• Document the whole journey to help others starting out

What’s Next?

I’ll be sharing what I build, what I break, and what I learn. This is just the beginning — and having a mentor in the trenches with me makes this journey even more valuable.

If you’re reading this and just starting React too, you’re not alone.

Let’s grow. Let’s build. Let’s React.

– Vincent Chiriba

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Vin Lawz