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Learning APIs from Scratch: My Path to Postman API Fundamental Student Expert Certification
Introduction As someone transitioning from the administrative assistance field into the world of technical writing, I knew I had a lot to learn. One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was understanding APIs—something completely new to me. But thanks to a LinkedIn discovery on one Elizabeth Bassey's post describing how she was able to conquer her fears about APIs and API Documentation. I also picked the encouragement to study more from a vibrant technical writing community called Technical Writing Mentorship Program, that I came across on LinkedIn, I found my way into the Postman Academy’s API Fundamentals Student Expert Certification. Here's how the journey unfolded. Step 1: Facing the Learning Curve Starting the course, I quickly realized I was in unfamiliar territory. Terms like GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE weren’t just jargon—they were entire concepts I needed to understand and apply. As someone from an administrative background, writing code or dealing with APIs had never been part of my daily routine. The first few lessons were tough. I didn’t just want to pass the test—I wanted to understand what I was doing. Step 2: Studying the Hard Way—5 Full Repeats I committed to studying every day for 14 straight nights. I went through the course five full times from beginning to end to make sure I really understood what was being taught. I struggled with: Defining path variables and query parameters Writing JSON bodies for requests Understanding responses Setting variables programmatically On my first attempt at the halfway test, I only got 2 out of 16 questions correct. I failed the same way the second time. That’s when I knew I had to slow down and change my strategy. Step 3: Note-taking, Rewatching, and Repetition I took out my notebook and began writing down every single concept, line of code, and explanation from the course. I rewatched all the videos with intention. I paused and replayed, making sure I could explain what I was doing in my own words. This time, things started to click. I began understanding the logic behind requests and responses. JSON no longer looked like surds and calculus. And slowly, Postman—the tool—began to feel more familiar. I even changed my workspace to the darker theme as seen in the image in Step 4, below. Step 4: Earning the Badge and Certificate On Day 14, I gave the final test another shot—and passed! It was one of the most satisfying moments I’ve had in my learning journey so far. I proudly received my API Fundamentals Student Expert badge and certificate from Postman Academy. More than just a credential, it was proof that I could overcome a steep learning curve, even coming from a completely different career path. What I Learned (Beyond APIs) Resilience pays off – It's okay to fail as long as you’re willing to try again. Community matters – The stories and support from others on LinkedIn kept me going. Documentation is powerful – Writing notes and explaining things in simple terms helped me solidify my learning—an essential technical writing skill in itself. Final Thoughts To anyone from a non-tech background thinking of entering technical writing: it’s possible. You don’t need to have a computer science degree to start. All you need is curiosity, discipline, and a willingness to learn—even if that means repeating a course five times like I did. If I can do it, so can you. DID YOU FIND THIS POST IMFORMATIVE OR HELPFUL? Kindly leave us a comment below, your input will help us refine our content and provide more value to our readers. We appreciate your engagement and look forward to hearing from you!
Introduction
As someone transitioning from the administrative assistance field into the world of technical writing, I knew I had a lot to learn. One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was understanding APIs—something completely new to me. But thanks to a LinkedIn discovery on one Elizabeth Bassey's post describing how she was able to conquer her fears about APIs and API Documentation. I also picked the encouragement to study more from a vibrant technical writing community called Technical Writing Mentorship Program, that I came across on LinkedIn, I found my way into the Postman Academy’s API Fundamentals Student Expert Certification. Here's how the journey unfolded.
Step 1: Facing the Learning Curve
Starting the course, I quickly realized I was in unfamiliar territory. Terms like GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE weren’t just jargon—they were entire concepts I needed to understand and apply.
As someone from an administrative background, writing code or dealing with APIs had never been part of my daily routine. The first few lessons were tough. I didn’t just want to pass the test—I wanted to understand what I was doing.
Step 2: Studying the Hard Way—5 Full Repeats
I committed to studying every day for 14 straight nights. I went through the course five full times from beginning to end to make sure I really understood what was being taught. I struggled with:
Defining path variables and query parameters
Writing JSON bodies for requests
Understanding responses
Setting variables programmatically
On my first attempt at the halfway test, I only got 2 out of 16 questions correct. I failed the same way the second time. That’s when I knew I had to slow down and change my strategy.
Step 3: Note-taking, Rewatching, and Repetition
I took out my notebook and began writing down every single concept, line of code, and explanation from the course. I rewatched all the videos with intention. I paused and replayed, making sure I could explain what I was doing in my own words.
This time, things started to click. I began understanding the logic behind requests and responses. JSON no longer looked like surds and calculus. And slowly, Postman—the tool—began to feel more familiar. I even changed my workspace to the darker theme as seen in the image in Step 4, below.
Step 4: Earning the Badge and Certificate
On Day 14, I gave the final test another shot—and passed! It was one of the most satisfying moments I’ve had in my learning journey so far.
I proudly received my API Fundamentals Student Expert badge and certificate from Postman Academy. More than just a credential, it was proof that I could overcome a steep learning curve, even coming from a completely different career path.
What I Learned (Beyond APIs)
Resilience pays off – It's okay to fail as long as you’re willing to try again.
Community matters – The stories and support from others on LinkedIn kept me going.
Documentation is powerful – Writing notes and explaining things in simple terms helped me solidify my learning—an essential technical writing skill in itself.
Final Thoughts
To anyone from a non-tech background thinking of entering technical writing: it’s possible. You don’t need to have a computer science degree to start. All you need is curiosity, discipline, and a willingness to learn—even if that means repeating a course five times like I did.
If I can do it, so can you.
DID YOU FIND THIS POST IMFORMATIVE OR HELPFUL?
Kindly leave us a comment below, your input will help us refine our content and provide more value to our readers. We appreciate your engagement and look forward to hearing from you!
