MY JOURNEY INTO DATA ANALYSIS – Nipalang Luka

Becoming a data analyst is one thing that had never crossed my mind in all my years of wanting
to be a “tech sis” lol. My dream has always been to become a cyber security expert or a network
administrator one day. But I guess dreams do change, right? The good thing about tech is that
you can always chase more than one career path, so maybe one day I’ll find myself back on that
track. For now, though, let’s stick with Excel and Power BI.

I am a Computer Science student, but believe me when I say I never had an in-depth knowledge
of Excel like I do now. Why? Maybe because I wasn’t taught in school. Or maybe because I
never made any attempt to learn it myself, after all, I was told it’s a software that deals mostly
with calculations hahaha. But how can a Computer Science student not like Math? I know, right?
I used to hate Math, but I guess when the thing you dislike is always in your face, you’re left
with no choice but to fall in love with it.

Learning Excel wasn’t as challenging as I thought it would be. Of course, there were times when
I was clueless about what formula or function to use. I ran into errors, but those errors were there
to make me a better analyst.

After gaining confidence in Excel, I decided to move on to Power BI, and that’s where
everything really started to make sense. Power BI opened my eyes to how data can be
transformed into meaningful stories. It’s one thing to work with spreadsheets, but seeing those
numbers come alive in interactive dashboards felt like magic. It made me realize that data isn’t
just about calculations, it’s about insights, patterns, and decisions.

With each visualization I create, I feel more connected to the idea that data analysis is not just a
skill but a language, a way of communicating complex information in the simplest form. And
that, for me, is the exciting part of this journey.

My journey into data analysis is still unfolding. I’m learning every day, taking small steps, and
embracing the challenges as part of the process. There are moments when I feel overwhelmed or
unsure, but those moments remind me that growth doesn’t come from comfort, it comes from
pushing yourself to try, fail, and try again.

If there’s one thing this experience has taught me, it’s that tech doesn’t have to follow a straight
path. Sometimes your interests shift, your dreams evolve, and that’s okay. Right now, I’m
grateful to have found a home in data analysis, and I’m excited to see just how far this journey
will take me.