Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatu. Akhi Patrick. Marhaban and welcome to Islam.
This is such a joyful event, you may already know this, but now you’ve taken your shahdah, all of your past sins have been forgiven and you now shall start a new life like a newly born baby does. Sinless, All the good that you have done in the past wil have also been added into your records and not lost in vain.
I am so delighted you have embraced and just wanted to share with you and other new Muslims and share 3 short pieces of advice for myself and others just in a nutshell now you'vetaken the shahdah.
Firstly: You should do is learn enough to enable yourself to practice Islam properly; and to protect yourself from incorrect beliefs; or even Shirk (associating partners with Allaah; which is unforgivable without repentance). This may seem like a tremendous task; but with the correct intention, [or niyyah] InshaAllaah it can be done very easily. And find yourself a Brother as teacher to help you learn the basics etc.. This will help avoid confussion. I would sudgest keep good contact with my bro Mabsoot.
If you are blessed enough to have a good community; and a good sound masjid or centre close to you; take advantage of any classes or circles for new Muslims they offer; the added benefit of this is; you may also get to meet new brothers on your wavelength; or other more experienced brothers who can share their wisdom with you. If you aren’t blessed enough to have a good community around you; for whatever reason then MashaAllaah you have us here at TTI
Secondly piece of Advice would be please read the Articles and posts by Moderators on this site with the sole aim of learning Islamic knowledge ['ilm] from them. Be vary of other sites over the internet as they may share/serve a similar purpose; in sharing knowledge or even meeting like-minded brothers. I use them for in a limited capacity myself; to rely on them for genuine authentic Islamic knowledge; is a mistake.
Thirdly that knowledge cant be taken from any site that comes up in Google and ‘going with it’; I know it sounds funny but I have seen this done. However I’m sure we all know that the way Google works is on what is most popular; not what is most authentic. Just as I am sure you wouldn’t diagnose yourself with an illness; via a page you found on Google; you wouldn’t take knowledge of the religion of al-Islam from any old page. Remember There are all types of people on there; who follow alien practices to Al-Islam as taught by the Messenger of Allah and his companions.