Summary: The “Find Mentors” pattern emphasizes the importance of seeking guidance and mentorship from experienced individuals in the field of software craftsmanship. It acknowledges the challenges faced by apprentices in navigating their professional journeys and advocates for actively seeking out mentors who can provide valuable insights and guidance. The pattern highlights the rarity of finding a master craftsman but encourages apprentices to engage with a series of mentors, recognizing that mentorship can come in various forms and may not always be face-to-face.

Reaction: This pattern resonates deeply with me as it underscores the significance of mentorship in personal and professional development. It acknowledges the inherent challenges in finding suitable mentors but emphasizes the transformative impact that mentorship can have on one’s journey towards mastery. I appreciate the practical advice offered in the pattern, such as lurking in online communities to identify potential mentors and taking the initiative to reach out to them for informal advice.

Interest: What I find particularly interesting and useful about this pattern is its emphasis on the reciprocal nature of mentorship. While apprentices seek guidance from experienced practitioners, they are also encouraged to pay it forward by mentoring others who are earlier in their journey. This aspect highlights the collaborative and communal nature of the software craftsmanship community, where knowledge sharing and mentorship play vital roles in fostering growth and development.

Reflection: The “Find Mentors” pattern has prompted me to reflect on my own approach to mentorship and how I can leverage it to enhance my professional growth. As I navigate my career in software development, I recognize the importance of seeking out mentors who can provide guidance, feedback, and support. Additionally, I am inspired to contribute to the community by offering mentorship to others who may benefit from my experiences and insights.

Disagreement: While I wholeheartedly agree with the principles outlined in the pattern, I believe that it could provide more nuanced guidance on navigating the complexities of mentorship relationships. For example, it could delve into strategies for building meaningful connections with mentors and managing expectations within the mentorship dynamic. Additionally, the pattern could explore potential challenges or pitfalls that apprentices may encounter in their quest to find suitable mentors.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the “Find Mentors” pattern serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of mentorship in the journey towards software craftsmanship. By actively seeking out mentors and engaging in reciprocal mentorship relationships, apprentices can accelerate their learning, navigate challenges more effectively, and contribute to the growth of the software craftsmanship community. As I continue on my own journey, I am committed to embracing mentorship as a cornerstone of my professional development and to paying it forward by supporting others along the way.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Site Title by rkaranja1002 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

  The ‘Your First Language’ pattern from chapter two consists of the idea that you are just starting out and only have a basic understanding of one or maybe even two languages. The problem which is presented is that you as an apprentice believe that your job depends on being able to produce the same quality of work in a specific language that the others around you can even if they may have more experience using said language or that getting any job will depend on your knowledge of one particular language. Then the solution presented it to decide on a ‘first language’ which you will dedicate to familiarize yourself with and when trying to solve a problem you will use this language and further your understanding of its inner workings. Then if an employer requires you to use a specific language you approach it by taking small steps at first and then exponentially grow your steps as you gain more knowledge in order to efficiently learn another language. This pattern encourages you to seek help from experienced friends in order to quickly progress through a problem as long as you do not grow a reliance on them for all the answers. 

  I have a great appreciation for this pattern as I feel it is something that many students and or apprentices may struggle with. Initial thoughts on a first language can be intimidating and heavily influenced by the schooling you go through if any or even others opinions online if you do not pursue technical training initially. You put a lot of consideration into a choice like this and it is important but this pattern highlights the thought that many people may have that they must fully master a language in order to be ‘employable’ in that said language when realistically even people that are considered to be ‘masters’ of a specific language are still learning. What really matters is that you take the steps in your first language and learn from the experience so that you can adjust the steps to learn other languages in the future as your first language is basically your jumpstart in the world of programming languages.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Dylan Brown Computer Science by dylanbrowncs and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

In a nutshell, “The White Belt” encourages us to embrace our ignorance and adopt a beginner’s mindset. It’s like entering a martial arts dojo for the first time – a white belt symbolizes a blank canvas, ready to absorb the knowledge and skills the journey offers.

Summary of The White Belt:

1. Ignorance is Okay: The pattern emphasizes that it’s perfectly fine not to know everything. Acknowledging our ignorance is the first step towards real learning.
2. Focus on Learning: Instead of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, the pattern advises us to focus on learning one thing well. Mastering a single concept or technology sets the foundation for broader expertise.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice: Hands-on experience is key. Whether it’s coding exercises or real-world applications, practice is the bridge between theory and mastery.
4. Seek Feedback: Actively seek feedback from experienced developers. Constructive criticism is the secret sauce for improvement.
5. Expose Your Ignorance: Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know. Being open about your limitations opens the door to learning from others.

My Reaction:

What struck me most about “The White Belt” is its emphasis on humility and curiosity. In a world where the pressure to know everything can be overwhelming, this pattern grants permission to be a novice. It made me reflect on how, as a student entering the vast field of software development, it’s okay not to have all the answers.

The call to focus on learning one thing well was a game-changer for me. In a world filled with shiny new technologies, I now appreciate the value of depth over breadth. It’s like building a strong foundation before constructing the skyscraper of knowledge.

This pattern has reshaped my perspective on learning. It’s not just about accumulating information but immersing oneself in the process. Admitting my ignorance, seeking feedback, and practicing relentlessly are now my guiding principles.

In conclusion, “The White Belt” is not just a pattern; it’s a mindset. It has ignited a spark within me, encouraging me to embrace the journey of learning with open arms and a white belt.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Hieu Tran Blog by Trung Hiếu and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Essentially, be willing to admit that you have gaps in your knowledge when you do, and be able to ask those around you for help when you really need it. The authors make a point to mention that this is relatively difficult for many people because of the self-imposed expectation of being omni-competent (that is, always competent) and when you aren’t competent, considering it a failure. This is definitely a difficult mindset to get past, but it is necessary for growth. Otherwise you remain stagnant in the things that you know and never challenge yourself.

This pattern is good. It’s true that in order to learn things, we often have to turn to those who have more experience and learn from them. It also gives a good way of asking productive questions rather than the common (and not very useful at all) “how do I make this work?” I find that in order to really understand what’s going on, you have to go to the root of the thing you’re having an issue with and work up from there. Otherwise, for example, you’re just writing code and you don’t even know what it really does, just that it works. This is one of the main reasons I get bothered whenever anyone has asked me to just show them my code in the past, not only does it not really help them learn anything most of them time, there’s a good chance the code I wrote ends up being copied directly. I don’t really care about getting credit for the stuff I wrote all that much, but it’s moreso about the precedent it sets.

Another interesting thing about this pattern is the idea of being willing to step out of your comfort zone to other fields and technology to better your versatiliy. I think this is truly important, especially when working in the tech sphere. Things change very quickly, and to not adapt means to remain with legacy components which are less efficient and less secure as a whole. This stagnation spreads to everything in the ‘system’ so to speak, and the results affect everyone who holds a stake in what your group does.

From the blog CS@Worcester – V's CompSCi Blog by V and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

  The introduction chapter for the Apprenticeship patterns book gives a definition and understanding of not only the term ‘software craftsmanship’ but it also explains the stages of ones development within the software development career path. These stages can be attributed too many other careers but the apprenticeship patterns contained in this text are meant to help guide an apprentice software engineer to become a journeyman and later a master.

  Chapter Two ‘Emptying the Cup’ contains apprenticeship patterns which are meant to help when initially taking on an apprenticeship and the learning curve you will face when having to “relearn” how to do a task that you may already do in one way in order to learn another way to complete the task. This is very important as you must be open to learning different ways to do things even if a different way may be less efficient.

  Chapter Three ‘Walking The long Road’ refers to the everlasting cycle of learning that is ahead of an apprentice and the importance of learning new techniques and strategies continuously in order to increase your skill and understanding which will remain important even after exiting the apprentice ‘phase’ of your career.

  Chapter Four ‘Accurate Self-Assessment’ is meant to make you realize that you have not finished your “walk on the long road” and encourage you to realize and learn from flaws in your own work or seek mentorship from your more experienced counterparts.

  Chapter Five ‘Perpetual Learning’ contains patterns that you are meant to use for your entire career regarding both learning an communication but they are vital to success early in your journey due to the emphasis on expanding upon your own abilities and your knowledge in order to expand your career.

  Chapter Six ‘Construct Your Curriculum’ refers to the necessity of continued learning once again and the need for an apprentice to be responsible and dedicate some of their own time to the expansion of knowledge even though the reading and research required will not be ‘assigned’ but it is still important and necessary when it comes to your own development and success.

  All Six of the chapters included in the Apprenticeship Patterns book are very important for your own development and the development of your career. Many of these patterns are things that can be disregarded by people while learning but it is important to remember you started somewhere and it is up to you to ensure you develop well professionally and you utilize your counterparts as mentors and examples.

  My thoughts on the reading are that I believe many people including myself forget the significance of looking as different perspectives. The different patterns in this reading provide a whole new perspective in which I agree with the majority of the content and find it rather though provoking. In my opinion chapters four and six would be the most important because truly nobody can assess you more accurately than yourself in order too better yourself and constructing a curriculum is something that can in a sense guarantee your continued learning throughout your life as you assign things to yourself and hold yourself accountable.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Dylan Brown Computer Science by dylanbrowncs and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

The Deep End pattern is about growing your skills and boosting your confidence. It’s also about challenging yourself with bigger things. Growth is significant, it’s about taking big risks and doing things you don’t usually reach out for. Taking risks may be scary but playing it safe doesn’t help you improve or leave you unsatisfied. The Deep End pattern means that people should take on big projects or high-profile roles even when they don’t feel ready to. The importance of finding mentors, building feedback loops, and seeking help when needed. People should want to take on challenges, even if there’s a chance of failure, can open up doors and opportunities that playing it safe never will.That pattern knows that there are risks involved but those risks can cause growth by being in a scary situation and getting passed your comfort zone.

I found the pattern useful because it’s supposed to not only build your skills but also build your confidence. Boosting your confidence is a skill that some people don’t think is necessary but it can open up so many opportunities. Just by being brave, taking risks, and learning from failures taking those experiences can help people shape a successful future. I would say that pattern has changed my way of working because usually, I want to take the safe side and not take any risks doing that would just keep me from fulfilling my full potential. Challenging my self will only better myself and the way I work. I don’t disagree with The Deep End pattern because it has the right idea of doing something risky so you can grow instead of being comfortable with where you are now. This pattern is about bettering yourself, learn from any failures you had in the past, and grow from them. Don’t let anything hold you back from shaping your future keep trying to succeed. This is a pattern I will use moving forward so it can not only help me become more successful by taking risks but also build my confidence so i’m not scared to take any opportunities ahead of me.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Kaylene Noel's Blog by Kaylene Noel and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.