Of devs and book clubs
In her blog series, Alice, our Lead Africa, tells us all things Code Blossom from her point of view: From exciting events happening in our community, to personal stories from her or our students. Stay tuned for this inspiring blog series - you won’t want to miss it!
In this post, our talented Blogger-in-Chief, Alice, tells about our community book club and the personal meaning that books have for her and her journey.
When I first joined Code Blossom, I was ecstatic to find out that they have a regular book club. Though I did not know what books were discussed, they did not have to tell me twice. I knew I was going to be a lover of these sessions. Reading books has always been a love of mine, but being able to discuss mine and other’s insights into a particular book was a dream come true for me.
But not only that, I personally knew that reading the right books can propel someone in the right direction of their life, and I truly wanted these women in our community to have this very same foundation. I did not talk much in my first session as I was nervous and unsure of my new surroundings. I was just glad to be there because I knew that the conversations that were being held here were conversations that needed to be had.
I talk a lot about my own story of not feeling well prepared to step out into the industry after obtaining my degree in computer science. It was not, however, just the failings of formal education that propelled me to seek other forms of education; it was life in general and the things that I experienced that seemed to knock me off balance. In an attempt to get the learnings that I needed, which included confidence in my technical skills and belief that I deserved to be in the room, I turned to books. It seemed the simplest and most cost-effective way for me at that time. Understanding what this did for my own growth, I knew that I would be a firm supporter of the book club initiatives.
In the beginning, our book club sessions received good attendance, but as weeks passed by, the numbers started to dwindle. To be honest, I did not find this surprising at all, as I knew that reading is not everyone’s cup of tea. But there are still some who have remained vigilant, showing up session after session. And in observing these particular students, I could see a growth in them that was not limited to just their technical skills.
When I landed my first developer role, I quickly learned that the greatest battle was not just the one I had won that got me through the door. It was rather my continued growth and evolution in an environment that was not so welcoming of me. My mindset at that time was not prepared for that, to be honest with you. I did not possess the skills and tools to continue thriving in that uncomfortable place, thus my tenure was short-lived. It took me having some of the conversations I am referring to above, some of which were influenced by books I read, whilst others were with my tribe of family and friends, to get a place of being equipped.
When we started the Malawi class, one thing I did note was how the students’ self-confidence, or rather lack thereof, hampered their participation in the community, something I could totally relate to.
But during the course of the book club, conversations about confidence started to steer more towards the possession of skills, rather than building and developing your self-belief. We read books such as “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Deck and just recently finished “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
I could now see notable differences in some participants (who shall remain unnamed, as these are their own stories to share). The difference came in relation to their self-confidence in comparison to when they started the program. I started to see them find their voices by speaking up in community gatherings, as well as daring to step out of their comfort zones more by entering hackathons. Something their old selves would not have ever attempted.
Or utilizing their newly acquired skills in their personal life for their own self-development. Through my own experiences, I learnt that my internal struggles were one of the core factors that allowed me to withstand the pressure and thrive in the sector. But by identifying and accepting them, I was able to start healing them, and the right books were vital for me. That is why I love that here at Code Blossom, picking the right book for the book club is an intentional choice meant to attain this result. Most of us are unable to identify our own internal struggles, let alone have the language to describe them.
For me, reading allowed me to find both of these things because our emotions and feelings remain the same regardless of where your part of the world is. What it did was also provide a platform for my pain, challenges, and struggles alongside people who could relate.
I feel that book club sessions have become this place for a lot of Code Blossom participants, tapping into that aspect of formal education not thoroughly explored. As we are in the business of not only cultivating developers that are equipped technically, but also are able to form a sustainable career path in tech. I couldn’t be more proud of how vital book club sessions have been in contributing to this goal.
As we always say at Code Blossom, education is not just knowledge. And the same holds true for books. They are so much more than words on paper; they represent knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration, and they convey emotions and courage. But ultimately, books, just like education, are power.
