Jesse Caunter
Web Developer

Foundations Reflection

Three new things I've learned about myself and my ego as a result of the core learning

1. I can overcome any challenge if I break it down into small steps/goals. This is partly growth mindset (embracing the challenge), and partly to do with problem-solving (breaking things down into actionable steps).

2. I'm an agreeable person, but sometimes that comes at the cost of assertiveness and self-confidence. I reflected on this as part of the strengths and limitations assessment. While the former quality is important to have, so are the latter two, and they are things I'll need to work on in order to reach the goals I've set for myself.

3. That I'm quite good at implementing small habits, sticking to them, and then building off them. I'd even go so far as to say I'm more habit-driven than goal-driven. Having a routine keeps me on the right track, and I know that if I stick to it I'll see incremental improvements every day. And these small improvements compound over time.

The role of values, empathy and self-awareness in learning and programming

These things all impact the way we carry ourselves, the decisions we make, and the way we treat others. Even though each of us is on our own journey we seldom travel it alone, and to reach our full potential we must stay true to our values, be compassionate to others, and constantly evaluate ourselves to ensure we're remaining on the right path. This is especially true in the realms of learning and programming where teamwork is often necessary in accomplishing tasks.

What surprised me the most about the core learning

When I started on the core learning, I was skeptical about how beneficial it would really be to my development. All the reflection questions felt tiresome and I couldn't wait to get back to the technical learning. But over the past five weeks I've become more comfortable with it, and through frequent reflection I've learned a lot about myself and how I can put myself in a better position to succeed.

The most challenging aspects of the core learning

There were times where I looked at the reflection questions and didn't even know where to begin. All of a sudden having to turn my focus inward was something I found to be quite challenging, and the critical thinking involved was in stark contrast to the technical aspects of the course.

Why I think EDA, a programming school, is spending so much time focusing on core learning in a web development bootcamp course

My understanding is that EDA is training students so that they're immediately employable on graduating. Employers are looking for people with not only technical skills, but also the soft-skills to fit their company culture and thrive in a collaborative environment. Hence why there is so much time spent focusing on these skills.

Does the time I spent studying core learning feel like a waste of time? Should I have just used that time to practise programming instead?

In my opinion there was a good balance between core learning and programming, and everything I've learned feels valuable in some way. EDA has a solid reputation and strong industry ties, so if the curriculum calls for a large focus on core skills then there's obviously good reason for it. As someone new to the industry I feel comfortable putting my trust in the experts, and I welcome their guidance as to which areas of learning and development will be the most beneficial.