No Pressure, No Diamonds — Andela Bootcamp
Halfway way through the Andela boot camp and the tales of sleepless nights become an all clear reality. I have had few such cases in the past when dealing with stubborn code while project deadlines loomed on the horizon. However, this is a bit different; it’s not all about meeting deadlines or ensuring the code works. The andela experience offers a support community that ensures you never feel alone during this challenging period. Through various channels, I have been able to share challenges that I have faced, while still contributing and expounding on solutions to earlier problems presented by team members.
Don’t get me wrong; the pressure is still there, but the Andela pressure is packaged with a little pizzazz! One has to access the Andelabs to understand the amount of work and learning that one is faced with during this journey, not to mention the constant failed code tests. Primarily, my third day was characterized by countless open browser tabs; digging for solutions to some of the challenges, constant communication with fellow boot campers on slack and WhatsApp groups, and having to brew a fresh cup of coffee every hour or so. At this point, I can assume the logic question you’re asking yourself is ‘where’s the pizzazz? The razzle-dazzle? What makes it so different from that final year campus project?’
Here’s the answer. At andela, failure is not discouraged, disappointment may become a daily routine, and no one is going to come baying for blood because you could not find a solution to a problem. It is our actions during this period and our ability to rally behind one another that counts as a win in such a setup. This approach has helped me focus on quality of work rather than quantity, when one is allowed such unlimited possibility of growth, it becomes easy to understand what is expected of you and creates an opportunity for growth both as an individual and as a developer.
