Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 5: Link here to your gist
(completed)
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 4: Link here to your gist
(completed)
If you will not be able to complete your journal this week, please provide an update for the Career Dev team on when you'll have it completed here (remember to reflect on what you have control over, what you want to try differently this week, and what habits you can utilize to get back on track):
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 3: Link here to your gist
(complete)- still need to do more reach out
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 2: Link here to your gist
(completed)
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 1: Link here to your gist
(partially complete)- Need to finish company research
Please list the top 3-5 industries and companies you'll pursue in your job search as of right now.
- Cuttlesoft
- Sciencesoft
- Slalom
Why did you pick the industries/companies that you listed above? How do they relate to the values and goals you have for yourself in your job search?
- I chose Cuttlesoft because of their focus on collaboration and an friendly/diverse community. They really seem to care about their employees.
- I chose Sciencesoft because of their desire to create software that helps education. Being a former teacher, i still want to be apart of the educational world.
- I chose Slalom because I have a friend that works there and he talks about how good the company is. He has been there about 5 years and knowing him, staying that long means the company takes care of their employees.
- All of these in some way match with my values/goals. Whether that be education, collaboration, or an inclusive community to work in.
How does your LinkedIn currently reflect your goals and industry interests? What changes will you need to make to your LinkedIn to better reflect these?
- I will need to update my LinkedIn to reflect more like the companies I would like to work for. I will update my summary to include my standards of inclusiveness, and community. I already have an education emphasis, but I would like to still highlight that even more while connecting to it the previously stated values.
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 5: gist
- (completed)
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 4: gist link
- (completed)
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 3: gist link
Assess your habits from week 1: how did you spend your time this past week? What was effective in your habits? What could be more effective? What steps will you take to make that happen?
- This past week I have been more cognizant of what I need to do in order to make my hobbies more concrete. I have been previewing the lesson more and focusing more on my work at hand without thinking about the next task at hand. The second one is definitely harder but when I've done it, it has been effective. I could update my calendar to be more specific so I know for sure that I will have enough time to prioritize my tasks.
Write a draft of your professional story here as 1-2 paragraphs. Focus on answering the questions who are you, why are you here, and what’s next? Consider how to talk about your motives and values, the turning points that led to your career change, and what you envision for yourself going forward.
- I come from an education background as a high school/middle school social studies teacher. During that time, I learned to prioritize equity and building a skillset that can be beneficial to others. I remember when I felt most helpful and effective as a teacher was when I could create lessons that allowed the student to take ownership of their learning and grow through application and trial and error. I didn't need to lecture all the time, just create lessons that helped people build on their current understanding of the subject. They needed to apply meaning to something in order to learn it, I was just a tool that helped let that happen. I find that programming is very similar to that. I would spend hours creating lessons for someone else's personal/professional development. I can do the same through coding and be able to reach an even larger audience. That is why I am compelled to programming. I want to use the values of self-improvement, equity, and community I've learned from teaching to the technological sector. I remember my first experience with programming was at Turing's Try Coding weekend and I was hooked because it instantly felt like I could take my teaching experience into this world. I knew then and there I could reach the user and guide them or the client to their goals through the work I do.
Update your LinkedIn profile with the following: updated photo/headshot, headline, summary statement using your story, and Turing added to your experience and education sections. Include a link to your profile here in the journal. Remember the guidelines and tips from the lesson here.
- linkedIn- link
- [resume] (https://www.canva.com/design/DAEKO9JICJ0/W8706U7lD0u9jvRLFJhhAg/view?utm_content=DAEKO9JICJ0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton)
What other steps will you take this week to update your branding or practice your story?
- I want to add more specific details about the relationship between teaching and coding.
Week 1: Link here to gist
If you will not be able to complete your journal this week, please provide an update for the Career Dev team on when you’ll have it completed here (remember to reflect on what you have control over, what you want to try differently this week, and what habits you can utilize to get back on track):
Ideas here are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear
Reflect on your habits from last module. What behaviors and activities were helpful for you? What activities and behaviors could be more effective for you? What processes would you like to try differently this module to become more effective at your work and as a software developer?
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I thought having a set time for work was helpful and I also thought my note-taking was what helped me understand topic better. I think in order to make it more effective, I need to prioritize my work better so I'm more efficient. I can also review my notes and re-write/do extra research any topic I am still unsure about.
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During the second module, I would like to be more mindful about how I'm spending my time. If I am working on a project/homework/or reviewing, I need to make sure that my focus is on the topic and not about what I need to do next in the alotted amount of time. I guess this translates into being more present in the moment so I can be more productive.
Setting intentions for this module: who do I want to be this module? What specific habits would help me get there? How are those habits tied to the identity of a software developer?
- I want to be someone who can stuggle and grow without feeling like I'm sinking into the abyss. Specifically, I want to make sure I preview lessons, use my time efficiently, prioritize my work, and ask questions more frequently when things are unclear. These habits are tied to my identity as a software developer in that they help build a foundation for code/languages I may not know but will need to learn in the future.
Incorporate temptation bundling to create a new habit by using this template:
After [getting up in the morning a few hours before class], I will [need to prioritize the work needed for the day].
After [previewing and reviewing lessons/projects], I will [learn to have pre-loaded questions pertaining to the lessons/projects].
How to enjoy “hard” habits: Reframe your habits to consider their benefits rather than their drawbacks; name 3 habits that you have to do and explain the benefits of them. How do they further your goals longterm? How will they add to your processes as a successful developer? At the end of the day, how do they add to your life?
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Wake up around the same time every day - This lets me develop a schedule and feel more productive. They help me further my goals longterm by allowing me to have optimal time during the day and consistency. This helps me add to my life and be successful developer because I can set beneficial routines and stick with them if I have a consistent morning schedule.
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Exercise - I love exercising in any way because it allows me to free my mind and do what I love. I have played soccer my whole life so without some form of exercise, I would feel groggy, sluggish, and non-productive. This helps me in the longterm by staying healthy, but it also lets me take mental breaks so I can be more successful as a developer.
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Reflect on the day - whether I intentionally do it or not, I tend to think about how the day went. This lets me focus on the good parts of the day and reflect on what I could have done differently. Reflection helps in the longer term/my future career/my life because I can better evaluate where I'm at and where I want to be on a micro and macro scale.
Environment design (optional 5-min. additional reading: Motivation is Overvalued. Environment Often Matters More): how does your environment set-up currently help you with your habits? How could it be improved to make it easier for you to follow through on your habits?
- My environment is more conduscive to my habits now because I finally have a desk and designated area to focus on work. This 'office' is located away from my room and all of the temptations I tend to have that distract me from work. It can be improved by changing the location so I'm not stuck in a small room in a basement. An actual office type space with proper lighting and surroundings would help me stay focused longer, I think.
“When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.” Read this 4-min article on how to stop procrastinating. Apply the 2-minute rule to reframe 2-3 of your habits by scaling them down into the 2-minute version. How does this reframing help you think about shaping your new identity as a software developer?
- The reframing forces me to rethink about the complexity of the developer I want to be. If I can't imagine the type of software developer I want to be in simple thoughts, then I will not be able to reach my goal.
1.Habits Reflection:
*How have you seen yourself become more aware of your habits? Have you tried implementing anything new? What have the results been?
- This week has been pretty packed with the group project so I have not had time to try and implement more reading and exercise. However, I have been more aware of the habits I'm neglecting thanks to this journal. I'm okay pushing some of those habits to the side because of this project. To me, this project is more important and that in itself is practicing a prioritizing habit.
Design Thinking Reflection: Cultivating Beginner's Mind
*How can beginner's mind be helpful when it comes to thinking about your career and job search? What are some habits you could put into place to cultivate beginner's mind regularly?
- A beginner's mind can be extremely helpful to shift a person's preconceived notions into a new perception. When it comes to a job search, a beginner's mind forces a person to think openly about all the possibilities. This helps broaden the career search to start and then can be narrowed down from there once more is learned. It involves, creating building blocks, starting slow, avoiding judgements/expectations, and more to really experience the task at hand instead of allowing already self-made assumptions get in the way.
Optional additional reading: How to Cultivate Beginner's Mind to Become a True Expert
Go through the Flower Exercise brainstorming worksheets linked here. Then complete your Flower Exercise final worksheet here and link that finished worksheet here.
Write out your top 5 strengths that you've seen in action this module; then write out the strengths of a software developer. Where do you see these lists overlapping? Where are they different?
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Patient - I see this overlapping with my list.
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Able to adapt - I see this overlapping with my list.
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Goal oriented - I see this overlapping with my list.
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Determined - I see this overlapping with my list.
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Independent to a certain extent - This is different from my list
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Creative - This is different from my list
Write a refined vision statement here (what new things have you discovered this week to incorporate into your vision statement?):
- To demonstrate and build on the skills necessary to succeed in software engineering to create the most inclusive and solution oriented code to the benefit of the user. (I didn't make any changes. I think what I've learned this week is included).
1.Habits Reflection:
*How have you seen yourself become more aware of your habits? Have you tried implementing anything new? What have the results been?
- I find myself placing more books around my place to encourage to reading. I also see how my habits have been beneficial to work because I do some practice exercises in the morning and that warms me up for class. Then my notetaking habit has been helpful with remembering key concepts. The results have been positive so far. I'm going to continue this until things become problematic.
2.Start Where You Are (Empathize with the user -- you)
*Health: how you answer “how are you”; intersection of physical, mental, and emotional health
- Health wise, I am doing pretty well. I find time to exercise (not as much as I used to) but I also try to make sure that I am emotionally and mentally healthy. To do this, I make sure to decompress and make time each day where I do not think about code/Turing. If I don't compartmentalize, I tend to overthink and stress about things I could be doing instead of being in the moment.
How would you rate your overall health on a scale of 1-5? How do you currently make time for activities associated with your health? What is a small change you could make here to readjust your health ratings?
- I would say I'm between a 3 and a 4 on the scale. I don't feel 100% a 5 because there are times I physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted at the end of the day. It is hard to find times dedicated to my health but I find that working out in the morning is beneficial, however, I do end up much more tired after lunch than I normally do so that impacts my health. In order to increase my health rating, I think I need to restructure what my evenings look like so I have more time to build the emotional/mental states.
*Work: what you do
- I create value in my work by evaluating how my work impacts others. The more impactful it is, the more I value the work that I do.
Make a short list of all the ways you work right now; How much value do each of those things bring to your life? How are those activities purposeful for you?
- I work in a small basement room with dual monitors and a desk. Even though this doesn't sound ideal, it does help me keep my distractions low and allows me to focus at the task at hand. I value my desk and the seclusion from the rest of my house because I need the time and space to think.
*Play: what brings you joy? Think about joy just for the pure sake of doing it; everyone benefits from this kind of play
- My friends, exercising, soccer, the ukulele, and having free time to travel and explore give me joy.
What activities do you do that bring you joy throughout an average week? In what ways could you make a small change to bring more joy into your life?
- I try to workout at least 3-4 times a week to stay in shape and because I thoroughly enjoy it. I haven't had much time for friends or soccer or the uke, but that's partly due to the COVID and not having enough time in the day to do the joyous activities. I could carve out some more time to play the uke and switch a workout session for some soccer time to more evenly split them.
*Love: sense of connection; who are the people who matter in your life and how is love flowing to and from you and them?
- My friends, my family, and my dog are the people who matter most to me. They are very supportive of me, but I think I can be more open to their needs. I am so focused on Turing that I often have to decline offers to spend time with them. Knowing Turing is temporary is what is helping me get through this. I need to put the work in now so that I can spend more time with them later.
*How does love currently show up in your life? How do you show love to others right now? What adjustments would you like to make in this area?
- Love currently shows up with my friends and family and dog. Their presence/check ins show that they love me. I need to be better about doing the same back. We all have busy schedules so I have no excuse not to send a text at least.
*Looking back at the 4 areas, do any problems emerge that you want to begin designing solutions for?
3.Define your needs, problem, and insights:
*Based on what you wrote about above and your group conversation, what problems have you identified that you'd like to design solutions for? What do you already about what you want for your career? What do you still need to find out? Who or what do you want to grow into by the end of the Turing program?
- I would like to design solutions for education because I have a background in it and I want to continue helping in anyway I can. I don't know much because I know that plans often change and so do expectations. So I am preparing for a career where I can see my work making a difference in somebody's life. I still need to find out all the possible job avenues I can go into once I graduate. I also want to see what the average day-in-the-life of a developer could be. I want to be someone who is adaptable and can use my knowledge, empathy, and abilities to build connections and code.
Ideate -- challenge assumptions
*When you discussed software developers with your small group on Monday, what assumptions came up about what software developers actually do? What steps could you take to challenge those assumptions and find more facts to answer the question of what developers do? In addition to what a typical software developer life could look like, what do you want yours to include?
- There were some assumptions that we would mostly be debugging already written code or work for a client who wants a website a certain way and it's our job to create that based on certain specifications. In order to learn more, I can ask actual developers what their job entails and possibly shadow someone. I want my software developer life to be a balance between work and play/life. Before this, I was consumed by being a teacher so I want a more balanced life. I want to be able to work 4-50 hours a week and then come home and not worry about my job/responsibilties and spend that time on me/my friends/family.
Prototype -- start creating solutions
*What is the basic threshold that your new career must meet after Turing? What would you hope WILL NOT happen in your future after Turing? What is your absolute, no-holds-barred, ideal dream for your future after Turing?
- My basic threshold is pretty low. At this point, I would just like a job where I'm treated like an adult and can be trusted with my responsibilites that aren't overbearing. I hope that my future after turing is not all work. Like I said above, I want a balance that allows me to enjoy my life. This is something I will not budge on. I don't care if I make 6 figures if it means I have no personal life. I'd rather have a lower salary becase I need the personal life or else I'll be burnt out.
Test –- solutions
*Based on this week of reflections, write out your initial vision statement for your career:
- After graduating from Turing, my future career will allow me to be a constructive individual that can support a family and have time to spend with them. This career will be bigger than me in the sense that I will see my work being a part of a goal to help as many people as possible.
Ideas here are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear
*What do you think are the traits of a good software developer? What are they like in the workplace? What would you as a co-worker think of this person?
- I think some good traits of a software developer are: thorough, patient, curious, creative, cooperative, adaptable, and diligent.
- In the workplace, you'd see an individual who is willing to collaborate and try and solve problems without getting overly frustrated and taking it out on the code or other people. They are willing to try new things and make sure that the goal is reached at the end of the day(or project/assignment).
- I would think this person values input from co-workers, enjoys their job, and is willing to adapt in order to achieve a goal no matter how long it takes.
*What are the habits that this person demonstrates to embody the identity of a software developer?
- I think this person would need to have the habit of taking breaks during long periods of coding, having daily goals(achievables), previewing work that needs to be done(to get into the right mindframe), and asking others for input.
*Who do you want to be as a software developer? What kind of behaviors do you already have in place to be that person? What behaviors would you need to put into place? How will you do that?
- I want to be the person I described above. I want to demonstrate those traits and develop habits that allow me to do that. I already have been trying to preview the next days work, taking breaks, and asking others for help/input. I will need to be mindful of others and allow them to contribute without having my head down and plugging away at work. I also think I will need to be a little more curious about code because I am currently at the spot where if something works, I don't fully question it and ask if there is another way to achieve that. I am just relieved that it works.
*Bring self-awareness to your current habits by making a Habits Scorecard. Make a list of your daily habits (examples: wake up, turn off alarm, check phone, etc.) as a way to bring awareness to what you do. Then, decide how effective that habit is for you and your goal of becoming a software developer. Put a + next to habits that are effective; put a - next to habits that are not effective; put a = next to habits that are neutral.
- wake up and turn off alarm +
- check phone =
- check calendar/schedule +
- exercise +
- preview class +
- class +
- take notes +
- homework/projects +
- dinner +
- finish work +
- watch netflix -
- bed +
*Pick 1 new habit you'd like to build and create an implementation intention following this template: "I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]." Then, stack the habit onto something you already do: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]." (Hint: make this highly specific and immediately actionable)
- I will read more before going to bed (my room). After finishing my work for the day, I will read before bed to relax and decompress.
*Design your environment for success: what changes could you make in your space to better implement your habit? How could you remove any triggers for bad habits? How will you implement these changes?
- To better implement this habit, I will make sure I have a space to read. I will for asleep if I read in bed, so I will keep a book near the chair I have downstairs. That way everytime I walk past it to go to my room, I will be reminded to read before heading in. To remove any triggers for bad habits, I will keep my computer in my room closed so I'm not tempted to watch tv all the time. There will also be a timer for the amount of time I spend on my personal laptop aka netflix.
*Respond after a few days of this implementation: What are your results? How do you feel about this method? How will you move forward with this habit?
- After a few days of trying to implement this new habit, I have been somewhat successful. It was hard to keep up with the reading on the weekend, but I did read more than I usually do. I feel like this method is more successful during the week when I have a more set schedule. If I can form this habit during the weekday, then the weekend reading will be easier.
*What is challenging about self-reflection?
- What I find most challenging is focusing on strengths. I have no problem identifying my weaknesses, but when I need to be positive, I feel a bit narcissistic. I know it is helpful to recognize my strengths, but I do not enjoy bragging about myself so it feels forced. With all that being said, I do know that it is not bragging and necessary to my development as a person and professionally.
*How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?
- I just need to make sure that I stick with journaling. I enjoy writing and often did it before Turing, but it was mostly about how I felt in certain situations. It wasn't a broader reflection like it is here. However, both are extremely helpful for self-identification. I think being mindful of the process taken at Turing will keep self-reflection in my future profession.
*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 Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity 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. 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 identiy tells me that my background with awareness and being an empathetic person will be beneficial to the tech industry. Plus, my ability to display humility is a plus as well. I have already recognized that through MOD1. The more human I can make coding, the more productive and responsive it can be for various communities.
*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?
- I wasn't sure how my social identity could be a negative for the industry, but I was questioning some of my chosen identity. A few in particular would be my "outdoorsy", "soccer", "educator", and "leftist politics" values. I think they can be positives if I take them and use them as perspectives. If I keep a soccer player in mind when writing code related to exercise or if I think hard about how my personal political views are displayed in code, I can create a more inclusive application.
*Always valued: * ethics * patience * integrity * respect for people * humor
*Often valued: * connection * peace * knowledge * trust * environment
*Sometimes valued: * tolerance * openess * understanding * pride * joy
*Seldom valued: * legacy * recognition * being in control * winning * faith
*Reflect:
*What do these values tell you about yourself?
- These values tell me that I often think about other people and how my actions effect others. The further you go down the list, the more you can see that I don't really think about my own personal recognition.
*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):
- Worthwhile work means that I can go home at th end of the day and feel as though what I need was beneficial to others. I want work to feel fulfilling in the sense that what I'm doing is actually making a positive difference in peoples' lives.
*Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you?
* I value connections and understanding. Everyone is different, but understanding each other is the first part to building connections.
*Where do your views on work and life complement each other?
* I believe that work and life need to complement each other when it comes to commitments. Work and life will both have commitments, but I think there needs to be a balance in order to feel satisfied. This means not taking too much work home or being able to leave life at home and work when needed.
*Where do they clash?
* They clash when the line between work and life becomes too blended and I can't separate the two.
*Does one drive the other? How?
* My work drives my life because I will need a job in order to have the life I would like. In the opposite side of things, my life will influence how I work and how I interact with people/my job at hand.
- One of my strengths is awareness. I have devloped the ability to know where I am at physically, emotionally, and psychologically. I also like being aware of my surroundings and other people. I often think about how my actions would effect others.
*What is something you have learned to do well (list a skill)?
- I can control a soccer ball pretty well.
*What is something you know about (list some knowledge/expertise you have)?
- I have some expertise in social studies. (former teacher)
*What is something you have a natural ability to do well (list a talent)?
- I have always had the natural ability to think critically which allows me to think things through.
*How could you combine these to describe a specific strength?
- I would say the specific strength would be "awareness". In order for me to succeed in soccer, teaching, or learning, I need to be aware of myself (skills, talents, areas of improvements) and aware of other peoples' abilities as well.
*In your own words, what do these top 4 qualities tell you about yourself?
- My top four qualities (Intuitive Conceptual, Microscope, Glass Window, and Lover of Wisdom and Knowledge) show me that I am a very aware person. I like to be aware of myself and others and this helps me identify my areas of strength and weakness. The four qualities really tell me that I am pretty introspective and can really identify certain patterns and behaviors. This will hlep me with understanding why code does or does not work and WHY.
*Do they resonate with you? Why/why not?
- I would say they resonate with me pretty well. Being reflective and being able to identify patterns and other peoples' perspectives has been something I've been praised for in previous occupations. Plus, I was a high school teacher before this so being a lover of wisdom and knowledge fits right into my wheelhouse. I loved the subject matter and wanted to convey that excitement to my students.
*How do they relate to the strength you wrote about in Prompt #1?
- My Pairin qualities match well with my strength of awareness because my instrospection skills feed into my effectiveness of being aware. The more I know about myself the more I can be aware of others and the four qualities from Pairin demonstrate that.
*What can make it challenging to recognize your strengths? How can you work through those challenges?
- It was a challenge to synthesize my skills, what i've learned, and my abilities into a strength. At first they seem unrelated, but they absolutely connect. It is also hard for me to see strengths. When I reflect on myself, I generally tend to stray from praise (unless I did something REALLY great) so that keeps me humble, but it also gets in the way of seeing those strengths. I guess, mentally, I don't connect the actions I do to the strengths. Thinking about this has made me reconsider my strengths and be cognizant of them.
*Do you ever see yourself overusing certain strengths? In what circumstances would you want to use them less and amplify other strengths? How could you adjust your approach in those instances?
- Another strength I have perseverance and there are times it becomes counterproductive. There have been times I've tried hard to solve a problem and directed all my energy towards solving the problem one way instead of stepping back and seeing all the options. In this case, I don't necessary want to persevere less, but find different avenues to success. I think my other strengths can help me persevere problems if I recognize all the different possiblities using my awareness.
*Write 1-2 sentences describing how you like to work (i.e., Do you pre-plan? Do you talk through your ideas first? Do you work better with deadlines? How do you stay organized?)
- I like to talk through my ideas and get started right away on the work using the trial and error process after seeing an example. If I can visualize the work, then I can be successfull and better organized to solve problems.
*How could you describe these working preferences to your project teammates? Your mentor? Your instructors?
- I prefer to see the end result or the process and try to replicate that to the best of my abilities by diving right into the work.
*What would you need to be aware of when working with people who have different strengths from you?
- I need to be aware that not everyone learns the same way that I do. This will actually be a strength because it allows the material to be absorbed and explained in different ways. For example, I want to see the code and break it down from there, but others might want to organize and plan out everything first. I think both ways can compliment eachother, but I need to allow that to happen. I can't shut down or refuse to learn a different way. The diversity in content presentation can be beneficial to all learning styles.
*How could your Pairin results help you better understand your everyday working preferences?
- My Pairin results tell me that my everyday working preferences require me to be malleable. Because I have the ability to be instrospective, an open book, and sensitive to others, I can adapt my working preferences to fit the needs of a certain situation. Also, because I love to learn, I can use the different working styles as an opportunity to grow.
*Is there any particular strength you'd like to sharpen while you're at Turing? Any area you consider a weakness that you'd like to strengthen?
- Even though I am decent at awareness, I want to sharpen that to include mulitple perspectives. Especially when it comes to how code can effect various people. The more aware I am of how code effects diverse populations, the more cognizant I can be when creating code that can benefit everyone. I
*What are some steps you could take here?
- I think I just need to be more actively aware of different perspectives. I need to make sure I ask for peoples' ideas when creating code. How do they think it would be applied and in different settings.
*How could you be aware of progress you're making?
- To monitor the progress, I think I need to constantly review my code and update it. The evolution of the code can be somewhat of a progress monitor.
1. When you've worked towards a goal in the past, what systems or tools have been helpful for you in accomplishing that goal? How could you adapt those same systems/tools to use while at Turing?
- When I have worked towards a goal in the past, I usually tend to find all the resources I can use and then try and figure out how to reach that goal. I use my perseverance and ability to be resourceful to try and find the answers I'm looking for before resorting to outside help. This is one of the ways I learn how to do achieve a goal.
2.As you start this new career, what is one of your strengths and how do you know?
- One of my strengths is my ability to look at something from multiple perspectives. I have already struggled in this new line of work, but when I've been at a roadblock, I've been able to step back and think about all the possible scenarios as to why my code did not work. Because of this I have solved a few problems.
3.Describe how you work best (conditions, environment, preferences, etc.):
- I work best with a some isolation and the ability to have mini breaks. I prefer a quiet setting or an environment with minimal sounds/non-invasive background noise. Recently I've been working outside and it has been beneficial, but if I can have a desk or semi professional setting, I'm good to work as long as the surroundings are loud distractions.
4.As you start this new career, what is your greatest area of improvement when it comes to your professional skills?
- My greatest area of improvement would have to be learning the context of everything. I feel like there is soooo much in this professional field that I am overwhelmed. However, if I continue to build context and knowledge through different coding languages and the basics, I can begin to experiment and learn a greater deal about software development.
5.How will developing a deeper understanding of your strengths and working preferences benefit you as a software developer?
- Knowing how I learn best and how I can work efficiently is key to becoming a software developer. I need to know how to prioritize the learning based on what I am strong and weak at. This will save me time and a lot of hassle with coding. I also need to realize my working preferences because it will help me avoid frustrations and feeling incompetant.
6.Describe the vision you currently have for your career after Turing:
- I envision long, but happy, cooperative hours staring at a computer trying to solve problems. I really enjoy the idea of creating something out of nothing or figuring out a way to make things better through code. I fully expect it to be difficult but at the same time, a very rewarding venture.
Thanks for getting your week 1 reflection in for M2, @ericberglund117. You may already know this - but the link for the week 1 gist (at the top) is not working correctly. Definitely agree that being present during your work time will make a huge difference in your effectiveness!