Three things I have learnt about myself and my ego

Response to getting stuck - I learnt that I usually try to step away from the problem for a little while and distract myself with something else. And also that I try really hard to figure things out on my own before going to anyone else.

Practicing is really effective - Typically when I learn something, I tend to move on pretty quickly. But practicing the same concept in my learning has been really great and not boring (like I thought it might be).

Not afraid to give things a go - I know that I like to learn by 'pushing all the buttons that makes sense' and that definitely flows through in my learning here, but I am surprised that I looked over all the stretch material to see if there was anything I wanted to give a go. If I had more time I think I would do more and maybe in the upcoming weeks I will.

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

I can see how they are all important for collaborating with others and working in a team. Whether it’s empathising and communicating with your team, being self-aware enough to notice how your behaviour affects others, or even how you might make ethical decisions or rules as a collective. Values guide our actions and decisions, empathy helps us understand and connect with others, and self-awareness ensures we contribute positively to the team dynamic. Together, they create a strong foundation for effective teamwork and ethical programming practices.

What surprised me the most about the Human Skills learning

What surprised me the most about the Human Skills learning is how it’s all centred around me and is super practical. While it covers topics like neuroplasticity and some broader themes, everything is related to me and applying those skills to my own life. Being able to relate everything to myself made it all sink in a bit faster too.

It all felt really valuable and made me feel like a person, rather than just learning to be a robot that spits out perfect code. It's a good reminder that programming is about solving human problems, and that the human element is just as important as the technical side.

The most challenging aspects of the Human Skills learning

I found the neuroplasticity and growth mindset hard to differentiate at first but now I totally understand the concepts of both.

I always find exercises like journaling and reflections difficult so I found the written aspect like blog posts and reflections quite challenging.

I feel like my mind races ahead faster than my fingers can keep up to type. I also struggle sometimes to get a coherent thought out as it can be a jumble of a bunch of things. Or that the thoughts are written kinda shallow but in my mind I've gone a lot deeper.

Why I think Dev Academy spends so much time focusing on Human Skills learning

Being great human beings - I think a lot of us joined Dev to get the work-ready skills we need in order to get a job at the end of bootcamp and human skills are a big part of getting a job. Like you say, employers are not just looking for the people that can right the best code or best achievements, they're looking for people that can add to their team culture.

Problem solving is part of the job so I can see how the skills around building resilience are super helpful in preparing us for real world situations where we need to be capable of finding solutions.

Is time spent studying Human Skills a waste of time?

No way, Jose. I can see how the skills I've learned from Human Skills can have long-term benefits, making me a more well-rounded person and positively impacting my life even outside of programming. Things like communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and managing my own well-being are super valuable.

Being good at both technical skills and human skills means better results and being a stronger candidate for a company. These are the people who create programs that solve real problems or lead successful teams. Plus, they’re the ones you want to work with because they keep you motivated and are just great to have around.