Post 1: First Impressions

Envisioning the DBC Experience

May 23, 2015

Throughout all of my interactions with DBC, be it staff, media, or curriculum it has been made crystal clear that this is a collaborate work environment. As humans we learn a lot through social interaction, communicating about concepts, teaching others, and working collectively. I can see that DBC promotes this type of work atmosphere, and not just on the surface but genuinely. I also understand some of the why behind the mission as we think about our future careers and employment within a tech-based community. When the message is communicated that how we work at DBC is as important as what we are working on, I believe it.

Coming from a teaching background, I am fully on board with the idea that working as a team is the most effective way to accomplish a task and to learn, especially when it is difficult. I have seen this as I prepare to teach my lessons. I also know this to be true as I witnessed my students grappling with new concepts. In fact, in my last year in the classroom, I pushed this type of learning more than any other year and have seen the benefits. The idea that I am entering this with a cohort of people to learn with and from aligns with my beliefs about education and about being a productive team member. I am eager to meet new people, to be able to ask a teammate for help rather than an instructor, to improve my skills as a collaborator, and to develop my confidence along with my code. I am excited to become better at experimenting, problem solving, and learning with peers.

Despite my full support of the core values of peer work and collaboration, I am nervous about starting the process. I appreciated the acknowledgement of the "two fears" in Shereef's Fireside Chat. I see myself aligning more with the first, having imposter's syndrome at times. I do not have a lot of experience in coding, and I don't know how my pace will compare to others at thinking of ideas and executing those ideas. I am not afraid of being able to do the work, but it is different having to learn "on stage." I am used to being an independent learner and processing things in my own way and time, so I will have to adapt to some of the peer tasks. I am most nervous about the peer pairing challenges for a couple of reasons. One, I don't know how well I will do at first working together in seperate locations verses side by side. Second, I feel very comfortable trying different ideas at my own speed, researching methods or syntax, and experimenting on my own; however, I feel like I might get stage fright when needing to work under a time limit and to explain my thinking out loud and in the moment. I am open to learning and am always self-improving, but I am worry about other's impressions of me if I'm being honest. I feel like I am pretty smart and logical and good at critical thinking, but this is a new experience. I will work to be patient with myself. I also want to make sure I am a good pair for someone who feels the same way. Golden Rule mindset, I suppose.

Overall I am excited to begin this new journey. I am eager to work at a place that promotes values such as collaboration, diversity, lifelong learning, and reflection. I can see myself thriving in this type of environment as long as I open myself up to being vulnerable at times, trusting the process, and receiving feedback. I am already loving being a student again.