holladayian/Mod 1 Week 2 Career Journal

## Mod 1 Week 2 Career Journal
Mod 1 Week 2: Building Your Compass
Power of self-reflection
What is challenging about self-reflection?
	It’s often hard to see ourselves in action. When we are working, playing, and generally communicating in our everyday lives we are receiving input from everyone else, but not ourselves. To be able to self reflect, we have to pause this communication to the outside world and actively look into ourselves. This takes work and practice, where as receiving this input from outside sources is a lot more passive.
How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?
	I think a great way to build a habit is to set time aside, perhaps every day, or a few times a week, to reflect on your own thoughts from throughout the week. This is why having a journal is nice.
It can also be beneficial to ask for perspective from others on how they perceive you. They might be able to see a strength in you that is so passive you might miss it. This however can be hard, because often times we fear a negative result. We have to work to better accept these as criticisms and not facts.
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
	Large, white, Alaskan-born, male
Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity
Athletic, adventurous, benevolent, disciplined, empathetic
Center: write your core attributes—traits, behaviors, beliefs, values,
	Calm, introspective, empathetic, kind, logical
characteristics, and skills that you think make you unique as an individual. Select things that are enduring and key to who you are.
	There is a complex answer to this question, in that, all of the traits I have already listed, and those that I haven’t are what make me unique. Some of them are positive, and some, not so much. If I had to list one trait above all else that is most unique to me (one I don’t find very much in others) would be something along the lines of unyielding adventuristic. Being born and raised in Alaska has given me the ability to do many things that most others have never had the opportunity to even consider. I thrive on new experiences; wild experiences. It is a major defining piece of who I am.
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?
	I am quite self sustainable. I need little personal guidance to keep going strong through work and life. To add to this, I feel I am a very powerful listener. I pride myself on understanding others’ feelings, and helping them mediate through their emotions.
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 have always felt one of my biggest “minuses” is the fact that I am quiet. This trait doesn’t come from a place of shyness, it’s more of a comfort in peace. I feel that the positive side of this is that I am non-confrontational. If I work to strengthen the communication side of this trait, while keeping the peaceful side in tact, it would make for a very positive trait.
Values mapping Pull out 5 values for each bullet below from this list:
Always valued: adventure, creative, health & fitness, courage, future generations
Often valued: altruism, challenge, commitment, efficiency, fun
Sometimes valued: ambition, caution, communicating, excellence, hope
Seldom valued: being in control, community, competition, faith, influence
Reflect:
What do these values tell you about yourself?
	These values tell me that I am not too concerned about the conflicts of/with others, with the exception of future generations. The things that do matter to me the most involve personal growth.
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 work means being proud of what you create, while being humble enough to grow from critique.
Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you?
	The thing that matters to me the most is the improvement of the world, both present and future. I really believe that the first step starts with the self, and grows to those around you.
Where do your views on work and life complement each other?
	I think I have a good amount of humility and my ability to grow myself from criticisms is quite refined.
Where do they clash?
	I know that work is often easier when we use communication to grow. It’s often hard for me to naturally communicate, rather than try to figure things out on my own.
Does one drive the other? How?
	I think my humility grows my ability to communicate. I know that when I get stuck, often the best thing to do is ask for help. When I reach these points, my humility outweighs my pride, which makes it easier to grow. However, I do need to work on recognizing when I reach these points sooner.
	Mod 1 Week 2: Building Your Compass
	Power of self-reflection
	What is challenging about self-reflection?
	It’s often hard to see ourselves in action. When we are working, playing, and generally communicating in our everyday lives we are receiving input from everyone else, but not ourselves. To be able to self reflect, we have to pause this communication to the outside world and actively look into ourselves. This takes work and practice, where as receiving this input from outside sources is a lot more passive.
	How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?
	I think a great way to build a habit is to set time aside, perhaps every day, or a few times a week, to reflect on your own thoughts from throughout the week. This is why having a journal is nice.
	It can also be beneficial to ask for perspective from others on how they perceive you. They might be able to see a strength in you that is so passive you might miss it. This however can be hard, because often times we fear a negative result. We have to work to better accept these as criticisms and not facts.
	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
	Large, white, Alaskan-born, male
	Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity
	Athletic, adventurous, benevolent, disciplined, empathetic
	Center: write your core attributes—traits, behaviors, beliefs, values,
	Calm, introspective, empathetic, kind, logical
	characteristics, and skills that you think make you unique as an individual. Select things that are enduring and key to who you are.
	There is a complex answer to this question, in that, all of the traits I have already listed, and those that I haven’t are what make me unique. Some of them are positive, and some, not so much. If I had to list one trait above all else that is most unique to me (one I don’t find very much in others) would be something along the lines of unyielding adventuristic. Being born and raised in Alaska has given me the ability to do many things that most others have never had the opportunity to even consider. I thrive on new experiences; wild experiences. It is a major defining piece of who I am.
	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?
	I am quite self sustainable. I need little personal guidance to keep going strong through work and life. To add to this, I feel I am a very powerful listener. I pride myself on understanding others’ feelings, and helping them mediate through their emotions.
	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 have always felt one of my biggest “minuses” is the fact that I am quiet. This trait doesn’t come from a place of shyness, it’s more of a comfort in peace. I feel that the positive side of this is that I am non-confrontational. If I work to strengthen the communication side of this trait, while keeping the peaceful side in tact, it would make for a very positive trait.
	Values mapping Pull out 5 values for each bullet below from this list:
	Always valued: adventure, creative, health & fitness, courage, future generations
	Often valued: altruism, challenge, commitment, efficiency, fun
	Sometimes valued: ambition, caution, communicating, excellence, hope
	Seldom valued: being in control, community, competition, faith, influence
	Reflect:
	What do these values tell you about yourself?
	These values tell me that I am not too concerned about the conflicts of/with others, with the exception of future generations. The things that do matter to me the most involve personal growth.
	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 work means being proud of what you create, while being humble enough to grow from critique.
	Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you?
	The thing that matters to me the most is the improvement of the world, both present and future. I really believe that the first step starts with the self, and grows to those around you.
	Where do your views on work and life complement each other?
	I think I have a good amount of humility and my ability to grow myself from criticisms is quite refined.
	Where do they clash?
	I know that work is often easier when we use communication to grow. It’s often hard for me to naturally communicate, rather than try to figure things out on my own.
	Does one drive the other? How?
	I think my humility grows my ability to communicate. I know that when I get stuck, often the best thing to do is ask for help. When I reach these points, my humility outweighs my pride, which makes it easier to grow. However, I do need to work on recognizing when I reach these points sooner.