Foundations Reflection

What are three new things you have learnt about yourself and your ego due to the Human Skills learning?

1. I learned that my ego sometimes holds me back from asking for help worrying about looking less competent. I'm slowly letting go of that and seeing that reaching out is actually a strength.
2. I discovered that I have a fixed mindset where I tend to avoid challenges to prevent failure or embarrassment. This has been stopping me from improving myself and has led to missed opportunities. I'm now slowly changing this approach to embrace challenges instead, finding inspiration in the benefits that come afterward, and continuing my growth and learning process.
3. I realized after completing a Strengths Finder assessment that one of my strengths is caring deeply for meaningful, high-quality work. However, this strength stems from my weakness of self-doubt and overthinking situations. I've become more cautious and aware of not pushing myself beyond my limits to avoid burnout, allowing myself to take breaks when things feel overwhelming.

What are the role of values, empathy, and self-awareness in learning and programming?

Values keep me grounded reminding me why I'm doing this and what goals matter most. They help me make decisions when things get tough or confusing. Empathy comes in when I'm coding with others. It helps me understand teammates' struggles and perspectives, which leads to better communication. Self-awareness gives me the power to notice when I'm stuck mentally or emotionally, so I can take a step back and figure out if I need to reset or just take a break.

What has surprised you the most about the Human Skills learning?

Opening up about my weaknesses was tough. I'm a pretty private person, and sharing my doubts or admitting when I was wrong felt uncomfortable.

Why do you think we, a programming school, are spending so much time focusing on Human Skills learning in a web development Bootcamp course?

I think it's because programming isn't just a solo thing. Most real-world projects need strong teamwork, clear communication, and the ability to deal with feedback and setbacks.

Does the time you spent studying Human Skills learning here feel like a waste of time? Should you have just used that time to practise programming instead? Justify your answer.

No, it wasn't a waste at all. At first, I wanted to spend all my time tackling technical skills challenges, but I realised that being a good developer isn't just about knowing tech stacks - it's about handling stress, asking for help, and working well with others. I genuinely enjoyed the journey of learning more about myself, how I manage my emotions, and how I stay motivated.