Image / Video Caption:
The YouTube screenshot and video link of my talk, (paraphrased: …):
“Pep-talk For Turtle Coders”
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Part A: “The journey of a thousand steps…”
A-1)
First, perhaps we should try to settle a question that software-engineers and engineer-aspirants debate ad-infinitum.
The Question, Modified:
“Who (should be allowed to, does—) call themselves ‘genuine’ software-engineers?”
__>> I-for-one, i.e., this author (Seif Sekalala) don’t quite know.
But there are perhaps some rules of thumb.
One: can you—-in good conscience, call yourself a professional engineer, just because you can make the code editor print “Hello world!”?
Normative answer:
NO (/sigh/really, friend?! 😂)
Am I (—Seif) an engineer?
Answer:
Barely, but yes.
Mostly though, I am a PMP-certified project manager with a wide repertoire of coding skills—-i.e. languages, source-control, wire-framing, UX-UI, and yes, the basics of databases and backend ops.
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How did I learn all that cool stuff? [👆]
___>>> A-2)-i; Answer / Proof 1:
My solid assistance with building Code for Philly’s PHLASK.me app.
And in that role—-first as a PM-fellow, then a volunteer to date, I always cite Gabe Cardona as my chief mentor; my sensei, even.
🥋🙇♂️
___>>> A-2)-ii; Proof 2:
I have a decent GH profile, handle-name: dibleauzah.
___>>> A-2)-iii; Proof 3:
I-myself find it hard to believe what I am about to write; but it’s true:
I have learned to enjoy debugging. [👈]
YES, you read [👆*that correctly.
___>>> A-2)-iv; Proof 4:
I LOVE algorithms, but I have made peace with my phobia of those scary … (what do you call them?) the ones that weed out true engineers from pretenders.
Honest brain freeze / tip-on-tongue syndrome:
I actually can’t remember their names, and I am mindfully choosing not to ask ChatGPT to help me.
___>>> A-2)-v; Proof 5:
I am humble; a life-long learner.
One day, my love of algorithms via pencil and paper, and repos just for practicing them; one day, these traits will allow me to do well in those (mindful-mischief usage alert!) engineer applicant weed-outer thingies.
It’s intriguing, by the by:…
Even as an ML-/AI-/LLM-ops PM-engineer up-and-comer, I can’t stand Kaggle. I never get past the Iris and Titanic challenges.
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Part B: “Triumphs…”?
Yes; quite a few.
B-1)
Forgive the somewhat repetitive (re-)mentioning of the GH profile.
B-2)
I have actually helped junior engineers, striving to soothe their imposter-syndrome and “not good enough” disorders.
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Keep Walking/ Hopping, Coder-San
You’re already an engineer, despite your mid-journey phase.
And granted, I can’t predict the future.
But I have a strange feeling that one day, you’ll find yourself at the 10,000+ mark and beyond one day.
Ergo: please do keep moving—-nay, hopping, “grasshoper”.
The Turtle-Dude is earnestly cheering you on.
You got this. 💪
Top comments (1)
Please support my submission, folkx! 🙏