My Learning Plan

Ngā hipanga me ngā rautaki mō taku haerenga ako

Steps and strategies for my learning journey

7 September 2025

Foundation Learning Plan

What is your long-term goal or career pathway?

My long-term goal is to work in a software development role that aligns with my passion, ideally in a hybrid working setup. I want to find a position that allows me to maintain a healthy work-life balance without constant stress over deadlines. If I settle comfortably into a role, I would like the flexibility to travel to places I've always wanted to explore while working remotely.

A description of your strengths and limitations when it comes to learning

I am highly focused and driven when I am engaged in work that interests me, especially when creativity and attention to detail are involved. However, I can get easily distracted or lose interest if I lose that focus or if the task becomes unenjoyable. Staying motivated requires that the work remains stimulating and meaningful for me.

What skills (non-technical/human skills) would you like to see developed in yourself while at Dev Academy?

I want to build my confidence and improve my communication skills, as I sometimes feel hesitant to express my ideas and thoughts clearly. Additionally, I aim to develop stronger analytical skills and become more diligent and responsible in managing my work effectively.

A commitment to manage your workload in this programme

I manage my time using Toggl's Pomodoro technique, which helps me stay disciplined and focused by breaking work into intervals with regular breaks. I am conscious of respecting others around me, ensuring that I don't disrupt fellow learners or facilitators while working.
When things start to build up and feel overwhelming, I plan to pause and take breaks to avoid burnout. If needed, I won't hesitate to reach out to facilitators for support.
I commit to seeking help early whenever I face challenges, whether that means asking questions during sessions or approaching facilitators individually.
I expect the facilitation team to provide clear guidance, timely feedback, and a supportive environment that encourages questions and continuous learning. From my experience so far, they have been great, and I hope that continues.
I do not currently have scheduled block-out times for other commitments.

Bootcamp Learning Plan

What is your long term goal and/or career pathway?

My long-term goal has always been to control my time and maintain work-life balance where I can express my passion in web/mobile technology. I want to see myself in a position as an experienced software developer and continue to grow over time.

What do you think your biggest non-technical challenge at Bootcamp will be?

I think my biggest non-technical challenge will be maintaining consistent time and energy management. I can easily get distracted by comfortable habits, which led to insufficient rest during the foundation phase. I'm working to be more responsible and develop a productive lifestyle that I can sustain throughout the bootcamp weeks.

What non-technical skills - human skills - would you like to see developed in yourself while at Dev Academy?

I recognize that I'm a weak communicator who struggles to explain or express my thoughts, both emotionally and technically. This makes teamwork challenging for me, though I find it exciting to exchange feedback with others. I hope to continue improving my communication skills and maintain good relationships with my fellow peers.

What are your expectations from the Bootcamp team?

I hope the team will be understanding of me even though I'm not always an effective communicator. I would appreciate helpful guidance when I get stuck or struggle with my work, and a respectful, kind approach to interactions. I feel the same way toward the team and want us to help one another reach our goals while maintaining good relationships.

What are your expectations of yourself on Bootcamp?

My expectations for myself are similar to those during foundations that I will remain committed and proactive with all bootcamp tasks that support my growth. I'll try to be more consistent in managing my workload productively to ensure I have restful time for my personal well-being. I expect to promptly reach out to peers or facilitators when I need assistance during challenging times. I will remain attentive to my mental health by taking breaks when needed and asking for support if overwhelmed. I'm hoping to be accountable for these elements to succeed in a fast-paced bootcamp environment.

Reflection on Learning and Wellbeing Plans

How accurate were your foundations expectations of your learning needs and growth areas?

My expectations from Foundations about my learning and wellbeing needs were fairly accurate. I anticipated that time management, maintaining motivation, and balancing study with wellbeing would be significant challenges. However, I underestimated the role of emotional resilience and self-compassion in my journey. I also learnt that managing social connections and asking for help are more important than I initially thought.

Were there any surprises / did you learn new things about yourself?

I was surprised by how deeply mental and emotional wellbeing are intertwined with learning success. I found that I tend to become overly self-critical when I encounter difficulties, which can derail my progress. Learning about Human Skills especially the recent content on "original" and "second" operating systems which helped me recognise these patterns and understand the importance of adopting a more compassionate mindset. I also discovered that I'm more capable of adapting than I initially believed, once I give myself permission to take breaks and seek support.

What challenges/barriers did you find in following your learning and wellbeing plan? How might you overcome some of these barriers as you proceed through the rest of your time in bootcamp?

Some challenges I ran into were keeping up with exercise and downtime when things got busy, and sometimes I let my social connections slide even though they're really important for my wellbeing. I also struggled with staying focused when my motivation wasn't there. Going forward, I'm going to make sure I schedule in regular breaks and catch-ups with friends as part of my weekly routine. I'll also try out some mindfulness stuff to keep myself grounded and maybe find an accountability buddy to help keep me on track also I'm working on seeing challenges as just part of the learning process instead of being so hard on myself about them.

What benefits did you experience from following your learning and wellbeing plan?

Sticking to the plan helped me get my days more organised, which cut down on stress and stopped me from burning out. It also really helped me get better at being kind to myself and not beating myself up so much. I noticed I could focus better and just felt better overall when I actually took the time to rest and reflect like I'd planned. The plan gave me a clear structure for managing my study workload while looking after my wellbeing.

Updates and Adaptations to My Wellbeing Plan

Te Whare Tapa Whā: Are any of the walls of my whare in need of strengthening? How might I do this?

Reflecting on Te Whare Tapa Whā, I realize my taha whānau (family/social wellbeing) needs strengthening. I have sometimes isolated myself during intense study periods, which impacts my emotional support network. To deepen this wall, I plan to deliberately schedule quality time with friends and family, and engage more actively with my peers at bootcamp for mutual support.

What are some of my key needs at the moment and are there some strategies I could try for meeting these needs?

Currently, my key needs are stress management and maintaining consistent energy throughout the day. To meet these, I will practice mindfulness meditation daily, incorporate movement breaks, and be mindful of sleep hygiene. Additionally, I will use journaling to process thoughts and celebrate small successes, reinforcing motivation and wellbeing.

What does my stress profile look like? What does stress look like externally (how might others tell)? What does it feel like internally (how might you know)? What do you need when you notice you are stressed?

Externally, when stressed, I tend to become quieter, more withdrawn, or noticeably less engaged. Internally, stress manifests as tightness in my chest, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating. Recognizing these signs early helps me take preventive actions such as deep breathing, short walks, or reaching out to someone for support. When stressed, I need compassionate reminders and controlled breaks to reset my focus.

What's a wellbeing experiment I can try over the next few weeks?

A simple yet powerful experiment I will try is starting each day with three deep breaths before opening my computer or beginning study tasks and I'll try do this technique before doing every task. This practice encourages mindfulness, calms my nervous system, and sets a considerate tone for the day. I will journal the effects to see if it helps reduce anxiety and improve concentrations. I also bought a fitness watch to track my health data: steps, sleep, heart rate, and daily activity. This helps me stay active and look after my physical wellbeing. I review the stats each night to see my progress and adjust my routines if needed. These experiments combine mindfulness and technology to support balanced wellness and proactive self-care during and after bootcamp.