After reading over my Pairin results, I realized my greatest strength is probably my self-awareness because it helps me align my actions with my values. I think this important when working on teams because I'm usually able to self-assess to determine if my actions reflect my ideals rather than an impulse or unjustified emotion. I think self-awareness helps me determine my strengths and is also important for identifying weaknesses. This quality is also helpful at work when receiving feedback and contructive criticism because when I'm truly self-aware these things shouldn't come as a shock. Plus, it helps me accept this feedback in a more objective way and less as a personal attack, so I don't become defensive but rather appreciative.
I work best when I can dedicate my time to fewer projects but then dive deep on them. I tend to stay more focused and productive if I can focus on fewer clients (in regards to my current job), rather than switching gears every 20 minutes. It's very helpful for me to turn off notifications and Gchat while I am tackling something new or complicated. When it comes to learning new concepts, it helps for me to have some kind of intro, but then I really like to dive in solo by reading up, watching YouTube videos and taking notes until I fully understand. It's easier for me to collaborate afterwards once I have a good grasp on the new concept or material. Then, I love to discuss and brainstorm with a team.
At times, I need to trust my instincts more and have confidence in my ideas. Sometimes in large group settings, I feel like I need to have fully flushed ideas before sharing them. I need to keep working on vulnerabilty and accepting that it's okay to not know everything or have all the answers. Sometimes it's helpful to talk through doubts with peers because it may lead you to a new idea or level of understanding with their input. Each time I put myself out of my comfort zone, I sense my own growth in these areas, so I'd like to focus on confidence in my capabilities and vulnerability.
I would like to leverage my self-awareness by identifying my areas of weakness, whether this is in terms of my learning style or working style, and try to improve upon them. Transitioning into a new field, this seems like a good time to kick any unproductive, negative habits and establish new ones that will help me be successful. Learning a new trade and pivoting towards a new field offers a great opportunity to start from a clean slate and establish good habits from the start rather than trying to incorporate them after the fact. I would also like to use my ability to self-assess to set intentions for my future in software development and then continue to check in to make sure I don't lose sight on goals going into the field.
Knowing my strengths and weaknesses is helpful, especially when working on a team, because my strengths might make me better suited for a specific role on a project. Knowing my weaknesses will give me insight on where I may need to push myself or reach out for support from a colleague or peer. It's helpful knowing how I work and operate so I can set realistic goals for myself. Knowing my working preference helps in optimizing productivity so I can set myself up for success.
What efforts do you make to manage your learning process? Are these efforts successful? What challenges have inhibited your ability to manage your learning process effectively?
I like to practice new skills and concepts with different approaches. For example, it's helpful for me to learn some things with a web tutorial and others with a blog post. It's helpful for me to incorporate enjoyable elements when learning. For example, when practicing Spanish I will watch a movie (in Spanish) that I have been wanting to see or listen to music that I enjoy. Incorporating things I like helps me remember why I'm learning it to begin with and prevents me from burning myself out. The most helpful thing is being patient with myself and not setting unrealistic expectations. This way I do not feel defeated and unenthused by the learning process. That is when I lose motivation — when something feels hopeless or when I feel inherently bad at it.
Coate's and Sierra's materials are both super relatable. In regards to Coate's article, his emphasis in "feel" is spot on. If I feel defeated when learning something new, it leads to fatigue and I feel too emotionally drained to continue. Accepting struggle is so important because as he mentions, struggling is the norm but the highs keep you going. And giving yourself time to learn something new and difficult is crucial. Sierra's keynote was so insightful. I love the idea of identifying cognitive leaks. I definitely want to apply this to my learning. Additionally, breaking things up in granular pieces when learning really stuck with me. It is way better to master less material at a time, then having a "half-assed" understanding because as she mentions, "practice make permanent," so you want to set a solid foundation.
What role does your emotional state of mind play in your learning? How do your successes and failures at learning affect your emotional state?
Successes definitely keep me motivated in the learning process. A lot of times when you're learning something new and complex, there are so many struggles so relishing those milestones are important. It's important for me to acknowledge the progress I'm making rather than focus on what I still don't know. That can be really overwhelming, so taking it bit by bit is helpful. Also, it's important for me to resist comparing my learning process or progress with others.
I plan on taking advantage of all the resources Turing provides, like mentors and extracurricular groups. I do not want to get so busy that I skip my workouts or start eating poorly because I know those are all things that affect my mental state and consequently my learning process. I also want to be sure I do not procrastinate because even for one assignment or project it can leave you perpetually behind. After my classes, I want to be sure I take the time to reference other online resources when learning a new tricky concept in order to fully understand before moving on to something else.