What is challenging about self-reflection?
- Self reflection is difficult because we have a tough time looking at things we need to do differently. Most people will look at external sources for the cuases of our problems, and it can be difficult to instead admit ownership over our problems.
How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?
- I can take every project and assessment that we do and take a look at what I learned from it, and what I can do better in the future to not make the same mistakes again.
Social identity mapping First, create you own social identity map on a piece of paper (or print this out):
Outer ring: write words that describe your given identity
- Latino
- Veteran
- Colorado Native
Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity
- College Grad
- Amatuer Chef
Center: write your core attributes—traits, behaviors, beliefs, values, characteristics, and skills that you think make you unique as an individual. Select things that are enduring and key to who you are.
- Vegan
- Progressive
After you complete your map:
Underline the items that are important to you Put a + beside the items that you believe clearly demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry Put a - beside the items that you believe do not demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry Put a ? beside the items that you’re unsure how they could show your ability to contribute to the tech industry Reflect:
What does your social identity tell you about what you already bring to the tech industry?
- My social identity tells me that I can bring some diversity to the job field in the tech industry.
What would it look like for some of your minuses or question marks to turn into pluses? In other words, how could some of these traits be assets for the tech industry?
- These traits could be a benefit to the tech industry because although it is a majority of people from one identity who are creating the technology, it is people from all different identities who are using the software.
Values mapping Pull out 5 values for each bullet below from this list: Always valued: Often valued: Sometimes valued: Seldom valued: Reflect:
What do these values tell you about yourself?
- Looking at these values I am able to reflect on what identities I think about more on a day to day basis, and which ones I keep in the back of my mind.
Workview & Lifeview Summarize what good, worthwhile work means to you (Tip: this is NOT about what work you want to do but about why work matters to you):
- Good worthwhile work to me means work that I feel is contributing something to the world. When I worked at a bank, I enjoyed my job, but I felt like my work wasn't benefitting anyone besides the company that I worked for. I would rather do work for myself or for a company that I believe in.
Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you?
- The most important things to me in life and helping my loved ones, and doing work that contributes towards helping animals and furthering animal rights.
Where do your views on work and life complement each other?
- My views on work and life complement each other, because I have had many opportunities to use skills that I have gained from my professional position to use towards things that I am passionate about.
Where do they clash?
- I have struggled in the past to work for companies that I don't believe in, I do not enjoy companies that do not have a foward thinking mission and a goal for improving sustainability.
Does one drive the other? How?
- I feel as though my passion to make a change in the world has led me to take on tough challenges in my professional life.
I appreciate the time and effort you put into thinking about your work and life view. As you continue through these PD session and Turing, these views will come more and more into focus and become more defined. I am excited to see how these ideas develop for you. Great work so far. :)