Flashback to my journey at the ALX Africa Software Engineering Programme
+70 hours per week of learning and daily projects along side of my full time as a student, how did I manage this duality?
The cost of being a better version of myself in terms of soft, hard, and managerial skills is doing the hard things. You may wonder why I write about this personal experience. The simple reason is to highlight some aspects of the software engineering field that may inspire you if you are new to the field or unsure about something.
After joining this amazing programme, I acquired the following aspects:
Commitment: I dedicated myself to both my academic endeavors and additional learning and projects, fueled by a resolute determination to acquire knowledge. This commitment allowed me to exhibit a proactive approach towards personal and academic growth. Despite facing challenges, including occasional errors in tests, I persevered in maintaining a diligent work ethic to navigate through the complexities of this dual commitment:)
Collaboration and communication: Some projects and tasks require collaborative interactions among peers as an integral part of the assignment process. Furthermore, on a collective occasion involving 10 learners, “the peer learning day,” there is a collaborative effort to help each other grasp the material, discuss key points, and address challenges associated with the weekly tasks.
Effective Feedbak: Some tasks are structured to facilitate mutual evaluation within the learning community through a review system. In this system, each student is invited to assess their peer’s work based on predefined criteria, contributing to the collective effort of grading and providing constructive feedback within the community of fellow learners.
Do hard things!
Effective Learning: Our mentors advocated for the adoption of the Feynman Technique as a study method to comprehend concepts and tackle daily tasks. This technique focuses on the objective of achieving a thorough understanding, to the extent that one can confidently explain the material to others without relying on external resources such as Google or any other reference materials.
Networking and online presence: Engaging with mentors and peers through platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn is strongly encouraged. A dedicated task emphasizes the creation of an outstanding profile on these platforms, recognizing their fundamental role in our era. Additionally, we actively connect with fellow program members through the ROOM portal, where opportunities, webinars, and interesting events are curated to enrich our network and foster professional growth.
Technical Skills: From Linux and Git mastery to debugging skills and various programming languages such as C, Python, and SQL, the daily tasks not only strengthen these competencies but also provide practical application, which fosters a dynamic learning environment where problem-solving becomes an integral part of skill development.
As I embarked on an intensive journey, dedicating over 70 hours per week to learning and daily projects while balancing my full-time studies, I skillfully managed my time to prioritize both academic pursuits and personal development. Along the way, I faced challenges and learned the importance of self-care in preventing burnout. Through reflective moments and breakthroughs, I deepened my understanding of software engineering and developed a strong drive for ongoing learning. Collaborating with peers during learning sessions and receiving effective feedback greatly contributed to my growth. I would say thank you ALX!
