I disagree, I think people are generally pretty stoked to see teenagers building things. As an adult I feel like I lost a lot of social credit in terms of asking strangers, "hey can you help me with this thing" or "check out my portfolio".
How’s it going, I'm a Adam, a Full-Stack Engineer, actively searching for work. I'm all about JavaScript. And Frontend but don't let that fool you - I've also got some serious Backend skills.
Location
City of Bath, UK 🇬🇧
Education
10 plus years* active enterprise development experience and a Fine art degree 🎨
perhaps I can sway you, I feel that if you limit your expectations by age and you will never exceed them. By this I mean that, I declare my age as something under the stereotypical age to show myself as exceptional, this then becomes more about my age than my work. If I am of an unknown age but my work blew you away then it's just my work that counts.
If as a side effect I am 14 then I just broke your world view but I need not declare it.
Can you see my position?
Also, asking the right critics will always lead to decent help without personal judgement, I'm sorry you felt this way but you should never feel bad for asking for anything, advice, help, knowledge even a job
I can see your position, and I do agree in some ways. I think one needs to take initiative at any stage of life to ask questions, seek advice and network.
I'm not speaking about exceeding expectations or being exceptional, more like the kinds of doors that are opened to people who are not yet adults. For example if I as a 14 year old called up my dentist and said "hey I'm interested in becoming a dentist can I shadow you for a few days" the answer would almost undoubtably be "yes". If I called a dentist as 30 year old and asked to shadow for a few days there would likely be more hesitancy. I'm not saying it wouldn't happen but age is a great social grease. There is a great deal of freedom and permission that society gives to children and young adults that hardens with age.
I think most professionals are very flattered when young people take an interest in their work, the thought being, "hey I can shape the next generation of my profession" whereas, I think, when adults take an interest in their work the assumption is generally that it's merely academic. Still flattering but not the same kind of mentorship.
I can see both sides of it for sure, and if you're looking to pickup freelance gigs maybe saying "hey I'm a teenager is not the best marketing copy" but if you're just programming for fun and to get better I think showing your age can only be a positive.
How’s it going, I'm a Adam, a Full-Stack Engineer, actively searching for work. I'm all about JavaScript. And Frontend but don't let that fool you - I've also got some serious Backend skills.
Location
City of Bath, UK 🇬🇧
Education
10 plus years* active enterprise development experience and a Fine art degree 🎨
This is the idealist in me talking here: I mentored an 18 year old chap when I worked at Dyson, I did the same for a 40 year old. both juniors - I didnt blink, because I know that my own feelings are irrelivent - the Dentist should not hesitate to mentor anyone. but thats not the reality.
I can see your perspective and I agree with what your saying also - maybe there is no right or wrong way. For me personal details are noise but I suppose I am just that sort of person, thats sad but true, so the real answer is, It depends who you ask :D
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I disagree, I think people are generally pretty stoked to see teenagers building things. As an adult I feel like I lost a lot of social credit in terms of asking strangers, "hey can you help me with this thing" or "check out my portfolio".
perhaps I can sway you, I feel that if you limit your expectations by age and you will never exceed them. By this I mean that, I declare my age as something under the stereotypical age to show myself as exceptional, this then becomes more about my age than my work. If I am of an unknown age but my work blew you away then it's just my work that counts.
If as a side effect I am 14 then I just broke your world view but I need not declare it.
Can you see my position?
Also, asking the right critics will always lead to decent help without personal judgement, I'm sorry you felt this way but you should never feel bad for asking for anything, advice, help, knowledge even a job
I can see your position, and I do agree in some ways. I think one needs to take initiative at any stage of life to ask questions, seek advice and network.
I'm not speaking about exceeding expectations or being exceptional, more like the kinds of doors that are opened to people who are not yet adults. For example if I as a 14 year old called up my dentist and said "hey I'm interested in becoming a dentist can I shadow you for a few days" the answer would almost undoubtably be "yes". If I called a dentist as 30 year old and asked to shadow for a few days there would likely be more hesitancy. I'm not saying it wouldn't happen but age is a great social grease. There is a great deal of freedom and permission that society gives to children and young adults that hardens with age.
I think most professionals are very flattered when young people take an interest in their work, the thought being, "hey I can shape the next generation of my profession" whereas, I think, when adults take an interest in their work the assumption is generally that it's merely academic. Still flattering but not the same kind of mentorship.
I can see both sides of it for sure, and if you're looking to pickup freelance gigs maybe saying "hey I'm a teenager is not the best marketing copy" but if you're just programming for fun and to get better I think showing your age can only be a positive.
This is the idealist in me talking here: I mentored an 18 year old chap when I worked at Dyson, I did the same for a 40 year old. both juniors - I didnt blink, because I know that my own feelings are irrelivent - the Dentist should not hesitate to mentor anyone. but thats not the reality.
I can see your perspective and I agree with what your saying also - maybe there is no right or wrong way. For me personal details are noise but I suppose I am just that sort of person, thats sad but true, so the real answer is, It depends who you ask :D