Digging into the meaning of effort and difficulty was an excellent way to start mod 1 at Turing. It was good to reflect on my own growth mindset before embarking on a journey that would inevitably result in discomfort. I've really embraced the idea of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable and accepting where I am now. Understanding that struggle is a part of the process and setting my focus on what I can control is essential to continuously increasing my effectiveness and progressing as a developer.
Collaboration is a key part of programming, and effective collaboration is an essential skill in most industries. Initiating a pairing with a DTR helps build rapport and establish norms prior to engaging in a collaborative work, helps to create an environment grounded in mutual respect and mutual purpose.
As an introvert, I often feel that our society shines a much brighter light on extroverts. It was nice to see how people self-identify and what they need as indidviduals to recharge and re-engage in their work. Like in most things, diversity is what makes ideal environments. Having a mix of intros and extros provides a balanced community that can accomodate (via empathy) the needs of others.
I shy away from focusing on my strengths. This gear-up was a great way to gently force me into acknowledging what I believe my strengths are. My mom has always told me to ask myself, everyday, 'what can I do today to make a better me for tomorrow?' So, when I think about what is important to me, I find that my struggles often directly correlate with my values. I value the process of learning and the challenges that come with it. I am always a work in progress and as I continue at Turing, I will continue to reflect on my failures and my successes in order to build upon my never ending story.
I am very grateful for this session. A powerful quote from the movie, by Gloria Steinam "Women are an equal part of the past, but not an equal part of history" really resonated with me. As a female, I have learned a lot in a short 6 weeks about what that means in the world of developing. Coming from education, I am accustomed to balanced groups of male and females, or groups that are predominantly female. Now, being 1 of 4 females in my cohort, I am exposed to the gender gap on a daily basis. In the movie, there was a line, 'you have to be impatient to get women in tech' - this is powerful. The thought of entering a male dominated world can be overwhelming, but at the same time exciting and inspiring. I am encouraged by the women I saw in the film and look forward to being someone that inspires other women to navigate their way into tech.
I found this session very important. 'Building my brand' is going to be essential to getting a job, which is my most basic goal for Turing. It was nice to have the time and place to focus on this. I plan to dig even deeper into my developer identity as I continue through each mod.