This pattern has reopened my mind on how the society expects us to function without taken into consideration what the individual passion is. I kind of knew many point mentioned in this pattern but didn’t know how to deal with them until I read this pattern. It is true that the community I live in wants me as a young graduate to get a nice reputable job with lucrative sum of money. They would expect me to have solutions to problems at the tips of my hands. But the little I know is that learning is an ongoing process and takes place gradually. Implies I might get my four years college training and graduated alright but my learning doesn’t end there. As an apprentice, I should continue to learn in order to achieve that mantle of the journeyman. Looking up to satisfy the society would do me no good than to draw me back from the long term goals that I have set for myself. Being able to growth in this industry requires me to be patience and stay focus to my long term goals.
One thing that marvels me is promotions. I didn’t see promotion as a detractor until I studied this pattern. I usually would take promotions as a reward for your good and professional word. But after reading this pattern, I have come to realized that not all promotions are worth taken. For example, as a software developer, taken a promotion to managerial position that has no connection with your previous duties will harm you at the long round. I would rather demand an increase in pay than promotion in order to stay focus on my passion for developing.
Also, it’s a norm, and as society demands, people would always seek a well paying job than seeking to develop their skills. It is quite challenging to work for less money when you know you can get more for the same input. But that notwithstanding, one need to weigh passion and long term ambition for his career against the present even though, I think the long term would pay you than your present.
From the blog CS@Worcester – Computer Science Exploration by ioplay and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.