# Week 1-2: Learning Python

By [Learning Python & GPT-3 (AI) from Scratch](https://paragraph.com/@learning-python-gpt-3-ai-from-scratch) · 2022-12-08

---

It’s been two weeks of learning Python
--------------------------------------

And it has had it’s ups and downs. This blog is a way of holding myself accountable, because I plan on learning for the next year (at least) with the goal of writing bots and apps with Python and GPT-3.

My strategy is simple:

*   Try to study everyday (don’t miss weekends if possible)
    
*   Start with free courses
    
*   Put what I’m learning to work
    
*   Build a dope army of Twitter bots that use GPT-3 / OpenAI to easily interact with projects in Web3
    

### First Big Lesson: Python is heavy on math

I’m not a math savant. Not even close. Today’s lesson made that apparently clear, especially this practice module:

_seriously, what the godamn fuck is this shit?”_

    def median(lst):
        sorted_list = sorted(lst)
        if len(sorted_list) % 2 != 0:
            #odd number of elements
            index = len(sorted_list)//2 
            return sorted_list[index]
        elif len(sorted_list) % 2 == 0:
            #even no. of elements
            index_1 = len(sorted_list)/2 - 1
            index_2 = len(sorted_list)/2
            mean = (sorted_list[index_1] + sorted_list[index_2])/2.0
            return mean
       
    print median([2, 4, 5, 9])
    

### Progress, baby!

My strategy is to continue through, even when I don’t fully understand. I’m hoping some of the math starts to make sense as I do it more. However I have a feeling I’m going to need to spend some time digging deeper into these equations.

Currently I’m using the free version of Codecademy and am working my way through the Python 2 course. I’m 71% of the way through in two weeks.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/102637e13caa212c4776eb27a87bf7db5b4f03cab14e046ac0f38a63866def7a.png)

Some of the biggest hurdles learning Python so far
--------------------------------------------------

I took a few notes on confusing things I came across today.

*   Some for and while loops confuse me
    
*   The difference between .() and word() is a bit confusing, too.
    
*   Not quite sure what range() is yet
    
*   What _exactly_ does return do?
    
*   Not sure on math
    

TBH, these are a bit de-motivating. Trying to understand them makes me feel stupid. But I shall forge forward, because time is ultimate equalizer and I think I can learn it by brute force.

---

*Originally published on [Learning Python & GPT-3 (AI) from Scratch](https://paragraph.com/@learning-python-gpt-3-ai-from-scratch/week-1-2-learning-python)*