Patrick Muguku embodies the idea of being a lifelong learner and his journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and adaptability. His adventure began with a music degree. Several years later, he ventured into farming before relocating to the USA to become a certified nurse. In 2013, he returned to Kenya to revive his farming and homeschool his children. His thirst for knowledge didn’t stop there when his daughter pursued a Software Development Certificate at @iLabAfrica and he joined her to deepen his understanding. His story is one of relentless learning, reinvention, and the pursuit of knowledge across diverse fields.
Patrick Muguku’s lifelong pursuit of knowledge is driven by a deep desire to make a difference in the world. “I went into nursing because I had been a primary caregiver, and I wanted that experience to be better for the next person. As a farmer, I sought to improve agricultural processes. Whether in software development or sports management, my goal is always to make things better. I want my children to inherit progress, not start from scratch instead build on what’s already growing and make the world a better place.”
Both his mindset fuels Patrick’s passion for continuous learning. He encourages others to pursue education at any stage of life, rejecting the idea that age or past academic records should limit one’s potential. When asked about his approach to learning, he explains, “Knowledge is interconnected.” He believes that effective teaching links new concepts to what a student already knows. “From one subject to the next, they’re all connected. When you can bring them together, you stand a better chance of success in any field.” His journey through a software development course reinforced this idea. He discovered surprising parallels between coding and music, realizing that skills he had previously overlooked such as artistic composition and musical arrangement were applicable in programming. “The design concepts, the order of arranging work so that execution flows smoothly—it’s just like music,” he reflects.
After years away from the classroom, Patrick’s return to formal education came with its own set of challenges. “I panicked because when you walk into class and the person sitting behind you is 30-plus years younger, you can feel the difference in experience and expectations,” he admits. Growing up in an era with limited exposure to coding, he found himself in a fast-paced learning environment where technology was constantly evolving. “Going back to school was like going back to basics except everything was moving so much faster. And then there was the homework… just remembering to do it was a challenge of its own,” he added with a laugh.
Despite the initial hurdles, Patrick thrived in the hands-on, practical approach of the course. Working on real projects helped him grasp complex concepts more easily. “Once you have a project to work on in class and you see how others approach it, everything starts making sense,” he explains. The course also fostered a collaborative learning environment, where he found his experience valuable. “I realized that even though my life and work experience mattered, I was contributing to group work in ways my younger colleagues couldn’t.”
Looking ahead, Patrick is eager to apply his newfound skills in JavaScript, website building and project presentation to his teaching, particularly in the area of structured planning. “It was a great reminder of how important it is to visualize where you want to go and map out how to get there.” He also plans to develop his class project into a fully functioning website on an idea he has nurtured for years. “Presenting it in class and hearing the feedback was the affirmation I needed to turn it into a reality.”
Patrick’s journey is a testament to the power of lifelong learning proving that curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new challenges can open doors at any stage of life. If you’ve ever considered learning to code but felt held back by age, background, or experience, now is the time to leap. Whether you’re looking to upskill, switch careers, or simply challenge yourself, a software development course could be your gateway to new opportunities. Take that first step today: visit https://ilabafrica.strathmore.edu/software-development-certificate/
By Ajuna Lindah