Kaye's Days

After a long conversation with ChatGPT (yes, I talk to an AI about my problems; it’s nuanced and objective while being supportive and kind; in other words, it doesn’t judge me!), I made the decision to temporarily give up studying Java entirely. The truth is at this point, I’m more excited about completing my boot camp than getting into my job’s software development program. That’s not to say I no longer intend to try, but the current economy has affected the program so severely, it’s questionable if it’s still worth the investment of time for a chance of admission. At my request, Chat laid out a list of priorities for me, and I must admit it’s favorable.

1. Take care of your mental and emotional health: Trauma can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental and emotional well-being. It’s essential to prioritize self-care, including therapy, meditation, exercise, or anything else that helps you manage your mental health.
2. Focus on your current interests: Given your current interest in front-end development, I suggest you concentrate on learning JavaScript, React, and other front-end technologies. These skills will help you achieve your short-term goal of becoming a front-end developer and help you create more complex web projects.
3. Prepare for the technical assessment: The technical assessment is due on May 1st, and you have ample time to prepare for it. While you don’t need to rush, setting aside some time every week to study Java and practice coding problems can help you feel more confident and prepared when the time comes.
4. Consider applying for the training program: If the training program still interests you, I recommend applying to it. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the program is not the only path to a successful career in front-end development, and there are other opportunities out there.
5. Explore other areas of interest: You mentioned an interest in mobile app development, which is something you could explore in the future. However, it’s essential to focus on one thing at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed or feeling stuck.

I love Chat placed self-care at the top of the list. In any case, I’m more interested in building projects and learning about JavaScript and its frameworks (React, Angular, Vue, and Typescript seem to be the most popular ones) than Java simply because, as I said in my last post about priorities, I studied Java solely for the sake of my job’s program. I may use Java someday, but as of now, it’s not something of interest to me. A big part of my conversation with Chat was the “sunk cost fallacy” – the unwillingness to give up something because of the investment already made. The thing is Chat never told me what I should do (unless I asked it to), but gave understanding in addition to a balanced opinion.

My primary goals now are improving my skill and comprehension of JavaScript, and to begin learning React. I picked React because it’s seemingly the most popular of the frameworks, but I want to eventually be able to work with all of them.