HOW MY JOURNEY HAS BEEN INTO UNDERSTANDING SQL.

susan-nm — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:53:52 +0000

INTRODUCTION

The first week on the introduction of SQL, honestly i was lost, the topic seems simple but trying to connect on how MAIN WORDS are used was not that simple. It was my first time hearing the word SQL but since am always eager to learn new things i knew it will not be a big issue.

After the introduction, i was able to recognize words such as SELECT,FROM,WHERE whereby these words help us solve real-life problems. An example on how the above commands are used. I will use SELECT.

In SQL, SELECT is a command used to retrieve data from a database.
select * from books;

SELECT means get all columns
FROM books means from the books table

SELECT * FROM books;
means: Show me everything inside the books dataset.

THEN I ENCOUNTERED JOINs.

I would read explanations, watch tutorials, and even try examples but nothing clicked. It felt like trying to solve a puzzle without seeing the full picture. I didn’t understand how tables related to each other, so combining them felt like guesswork.

WINDOW FUNCTIONS WERE EVEN WORSE.

I remember thinking,Why not just use GROUP BY for everything? It seemed easier, familiar, and safe. Window functions looked complicated, unnecessary, and honestly intimidating.

And those SQL functions every beginner should know
They were not easy.

The Turning Point: Slowing Down

What changed everything wasn’t a new tutorial or a magic explanation.

It was slowing down.
Instead of trying to understand everything at once, I started breaking things into small pieces:

I focused on one JOIN at a time
I used simple datasets — nothing complex
I asked myself why each query worked, not just how

One day, something clicked.

JOINs stopped being abstract. I began to see them as conversations between tables — each one contributing its own piece of information. Instead of confusion, I started seeing patterns. When Things Started Making Sense. The moment I understood JOINs, everything else became easier.

Window functions? They suddenly felt powerful instead of scary. I realized they weren’t replacing GROUP BY — they were solving a different problem. GROUP BY summarizes data, but window functions let you keep the details and analyze them at the same time.

That was a game changer.

And those basic SQL functions I once struggled with? They became tools I could confidently use — not things I had to memorize blindly.

RIGHT NOW

I won’t say I know everything BUT am somewhere, am no longer stuck, because i can write queries and actually understand what they’re doing. I can debug my own mistakes. I can explore data without feeling overwhelmed. Most importantly, I’m not afraid of SQL anymore.

LESSONS LEARNT.

If there’s one thing this journey taught me,
I don't need to understand everything at once.
At times i feel confused, but i know am learning.

I will take every concept at a time. practice, and be patient with myself. because one day things will flow like a pro, and when they do i will realize how far I have come from.

CONCLUSION

Those topics/ parts that makes me get confused, they are my foundation and i know that i am just getting started.

USE OF EXCEL IN REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSIS.

susan-nm — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:52:29 +0000

INTRODUCTION

In the world today, organizations depends on their data to make decisions. From businesses to schools and financial institutions In Financial institutions, schools and businesses, for them to understand trends and how they are performing data is very essential. The above organizations use a tool known as Microsoft Excel to handle and analyze their data. Since its simple and has features which are powerful it is the best tool to do data analysis for professional and beginners.

EXCEL

Excel is a program that has spreadsheet that we use to organize, analyze, calculate data. in the spreadsheet we have columns, rows, sheets and cell that helps us analyze and organize our work. Almost all businesses and organizations both small and large use excel to do analysis, calculations and forecasting.

Excel as a tool performs tasks such as;
. Data entry -We stores data and information in columns and rows which makes it easier to trace, access and update. As shown below.

. Book keeping and accounting - using formulars and templates its easier to calculate expenses and income of our business.
. Visualization and chart creation - we are able to transform raw data into meaningful visual data insight.
.Functions to do advanced calculations - Built in formulas such as SUM,AVERAGE, MIN, XLOOKUP helps in analyzing values.
below is an image with SUM Formula

. Pivot tables -its easier to manage big dataset using pivot tables. A good example Jumia dataset.

Data Analysis

Excel is a powerful tool for analyzing datasets. It allows users to clean data, identify patterns, and draw meaningful insights that support decision-making.

Key Excel Features and Formulas
Pivot Tables

Pivot tables are one of Excel’s most powerful features. They allow users to summarize large datasets quickly. For example, a pivot table can show total sales by product or region without manually calculating each value.

Sorting and Filtering

Sorting helps arrange data in order, such as from largest to smallest values. Filtering allows users to display only specific data, making it easier to focus on relevant information.

Common Formulas

SUM Function
Used to add values in a range.
Example:
=SUM(A1:A10)

AVERAGE Function
Calculates the average of a set of numbers.
Example:
=AVERAGE(A1:A10)

IF Function
Used to make logical decisions.
Example:
=IF(A1>50, "Pass", "Fail")

VLOOKUP / XLOOKUP
Used to search for data in a table and return corresponding values. This is useful when working with large datasets.

Real Example Scenario

For instance, when analyzing a dataset of products, Excel can be used to study the relationship between discount percentages and the number of customer reviews. By using pivot tables and charts, businesses can determine whether higher discounts lead to increased customer engagement. Similarly, Excel can help identify whether higher-rated products receive more reviews, enabling companies to improve their strategies.

Benefits of Using Excel

Excel offers several advantages in data analysis:

It is easy to learn and use
It is widely available and used globally
It provides powerful tools for data analysis
It does not require programming knowledge
It supports data visualization through charts and graphs
Personal Reflection. This graph below cleary shows discounts percentages and customers reviews

Learning Excel has helped me analyze and interpret data. I can now organize large datasets, apply formulas, and generate insights that were previously difficult to identify.I now understand how data can be transformed into meaningful information that supports decision-making.

CONCLUSION

Microsoft Excel is an essential tool in real-world data analysis. Its ability to organize, analyze, and visualize data makes it valuable across various fields such as business, finance, and education. As data continues to play a significant role in decision-making, mastering Excel is an important skill that can open many opportunities in today’s digital world.

Forem: susan-nm

HOW MY JOURNEY HAS BEEN INTO UNDERSTANDING SQL.

INTRODUCTION

THEN I ENCOUNTERED JOINs.

WINDOW FUNCTIONS WERE EVEN WORSE.

RIGHT NOW

LESSONS LEARNT.

CONCLUSION

USE OF EXCEL IN REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSIS.

INTRODUCTION

EXCEL

CONCLUSION