To my Instructors:
It's strange to be writing a letter to people I don't even really have names for yet! Talking uninterrupted about oneself can feel uncomfortable, but here goes:
My name is Alycia Canavan (pronouns she/her). I have been a pediatric speech-language pathologist for the last 11 years, and I've hopped around from setting to setting, trying in vain to find one that felt "right". Well, working remotely during the pandemic and then returning to my university job afterwards helped me realize that the setting wasn't the problem, it was the work I didn't feel fulfilled by anymore. It's odd to speak positively about the pandemic, but I think one silver lining many in the workforce found was a new appreciation for how short life is, and how little sense it makes to spend so much of our precious little time doing things that don't make us happy. What makes me happy? Working from home was unexpectedly enjoyable for me. I found I was more productive as a worker, a partner, and a mother. I spent little to no time commuting, parking, finding shoes that matched my clothes, etc., and I used that newfound time well. Traveling makes me happy (and not traveling makes me stir-crazy, as it turns out). And feeling appreciated at work makes me happy (duh, right?). A close friend of mine (whose personality is super similar to mine) had made the switch from school psychologist to remote software engineer several years ago, and she has been enjoying all the perks that I think I would enjoy- feeling productive and valued at work, working remotely, and having an acceptable work/life balance. So that's my "why" - I am on a journey of self-improvement, and the third of my life that I spend working (or however much it is) is the next target for me to focus on. I'm so excited to be taking these steps, and am eager to have Turing's help along the way. I've been a business owner, worked in school administration, a team lead, and a college instructor, and have always thrived in jobs that required a high level of organization, creative problem-solving, and communication. These are the strengths I'll bring to my new job, and to my time at Turing. Some challenges I deal with include self-doubt, a fixed mindset, and extreme discomfort with public speaking. I'm a confident and competent writer, but speaking in front of others is something I tend to only do if absolutely necessary. All of these are things I am working on and committed to improving. I tend to take negative feedback probably more harshly than I should, but I always want to know what I can do better. It's just nice to have it accompanied by comments that reinforce what I am doing right.
I should also mention that I have a family - two wonderful kids and a husband - and while they are as supportive as I could ask a 6 and a 9 year old to be, I will be juggling my not-insignificant home responsibilities with school.
I really enjoyed Mod0! Coming into this endeavor, I had this tiny voice at the back of my head wondering aloud whether I could still learn new things. It's been a long time since I've been a student, or intentionally committed myself to a whole lot of new information in a new field (wait, have I ever done that?) But Mod0 confirmed for me that I can learn, I can remember, and I can use new information.
In case it hasn't come across yet in this letter, I'm SO excited to start Mod1. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, and I'll see you soon!