Apprenticeship Patterns Reflection

Over the past four years and especially this past one, I have been building my software skills to prepare myself for after graduation this May. I don’t have any experience in the corporate world, and I feel kind of scared of starting a real job. Reading just the small portions of Apprenticeship Patterns by Dave Hoover and Adewale Oshineye has made me realize that everyone is new to something all the time, everyone has been in my shoes, and having an open mind for learning is the most important part to success. 

There is a section in chapter 1 that lists the values of software craftsmanship, and a few really stood out to me. 

Failure is a crucial part of learning, and the motivation to try again is an extremely valuable skill. I’m often turned away from topics or ideas because I’m scared of failure, but over the past couple years, I’ve been forcing myself to try anyway because your weak points are where you can improve. As I’ve been applying to jobs, I’ve noticed a lot of job postings say they want someone who is adaptive. People (and I) get comfortable in routine and are scared to be uncomfortable, which is also something I’ve been conscious of recently and trying to overcome. 
Later on in chapter 3, Dave tells a story of having a lot of certifications, so his bosses think he’s valuable. But he isn’t really, if he’s not constantly learning new things and improving. It’s important to not be intimidated by peers that know more, but instead to ask questions, challenge ideas, and be open to learning. 

There are two analogies mentioned that really helped me visualize this process as well. 
In chapter 2, they tell a story of a philosopher wanting to learn from a Zen Master, but the philosopher did not let the Zen Master speak. The Zen Master said to him “If you come to me with a cup that is already full, how can you expect me to give you something to drink?” Allowing other people to show me their way of doing a task is something I struggle with a lot, so the analogy of the tea cup is really interesting to me. Visualizing emptying my teacup when I am around my peers will be helpful to allow myself to learn from them. 
In chapter 4, they say “One of the primary risks for someone who learns quickly is becoming a big fish in a small pond.” It reminds me of the saying “If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.” Constantly seeking an environment of improvement is how you succeed. If you are too big for the pond, move to a bigger one where you can thrive.

This book has helped me a lot to feel less nervous about joining the software development world. I would like to read the rest of the book and learn how to be open minded in this industry.