WGP Sigplan

I had always told my parents and friends that I would grow up and become one of the world’s best programmers. I developed a deep interest in computers and software as early as seven years old, you see. That was when my 1st grade teacher allowed us to use a computer for the 1st time. She only taught eyes how to boot it and type our name on a notepad. As my classmates were more interested in banging their fingers on the keyboard, I was busy staring at the screen with a stupid grin on my face, dreaming of the day when I could make a similar software that other people would love to use.

 However, I faced gender discrimination early in life. I am a female, and programming was seen as a job for males. It might no longer be the case in the 21st century, especially now that we are in 2021, but it was a big deal back in the day. Whenever I told my parents about my dream, they would ask me to become a model, nurse, or actress.

What my parents did not account for was my inability to submit to what people expected of me. It would mean that I would be unable to follow my dreams, and I could not accept them. Despite their efforts to enroll me in a ballet school or make me do theater work, I refused to do any of that and stayed in my room. They eventually gave in and allowed me to apply for a programming degree in college.

When My Depression And Anxiety Started

I found out that my parents’ views were more common than mine. I learned that firsthand when I went to a college to send my application personally. The administrator asked me thrice if I was applying to make sure I wasn’t mistaken, but I told them that I genuinely wanted to be a programmer. I technically met all their requirements, so they accepted me, albeit reluctantly.

When the semester started, I felt the need to prove my worth because I was the only girl in that class. All my classmates seemed to bond over everything, but they tended to leave me out of things because of my gender. It made me lonely, to be honest, but I still pushed through because I wanted to program in my life. 

Then, when it was time for me to look for a job, I faced another hurdle. The first two companies that I applied for specifically told me that most firms only looked for male programmers – there was no room for a female in that department. This brutal revelation made my confidence wane, and it showed in my worsening subsequent interviews.

What is situational anxiety?

Situational anxiety is a short-term type of anxiety that you experience when you face a worrying situation. For instance, you may feel nervous because of an interview, school performance, or presentation.

What are the four types of depression?

• Bipolar disorder
• Dysthymia
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder

What is situational disorder?

Situational depression is a mental disorder that a person typically experiences due to stress. When you get over that situation, it tends to go away on its own.

Is depression a behavioral issue?

No, depression is a mood issue. Despite that, it can make you behave differently.

What are the five signs of mental illness?

• You cannot stop worrying or getting paranoid, no matter how much others assure you that everyone is safe.
• It does not feel like anything can lift your spirits or make you relax.
• Your mood does not seem to stabilize for days.
• You refuse to socialize with anyone – even with your family.
• You eat or sleep excessively or not at all.

What does a mental breakdown look like?

A mental breakdown looks like you have lost control of everything, so you cannot help but cry it all out or behave erratically.

What is a psychotic break?

A psychotic break entails that an individual who is supposedly free from psychosis already starts to experience delusions and hallucinations again. 

Do you cry during a mental breakdown?

Not everyone who experiences a mental breakdown cries, to be honest. Many people also feel depressed, detached, angry, or fearful, but they do not always cry.

What triggers psychosis?

Psychosis is typically triggered by other existing mental conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe anxiety or depression, and sleep deprivation. If you must know, many of these illnesses have at least one symptom similar to that of psychosis.

What are the early warning signs of psychosis?

• You feel inappropriate emotions towards a specific situation.
• You want to be alone, even if you didn’t use to be like that.
• You act suspiciously towards everyone, including the people you have known forever.
• You rarely or no longer shower, brush your teeth, change your clothes, etc.
• You cannot think straight most days.

How can I stop being so sensitive?

If you do not want to be too sensitive anymore, you must do the following:

• Write about the situations that hurt you instead of lashing out. You need not be a writer to do that. It should be no different from writing in your diary.
• Ask yourself, “Why do I feel overly sensitive?” Is it because of how people react to what you say or do? Is it because you care too much about others’ opinions? Whatever it is, find a way to resolve your issues.
• Keep in mind that berating yourself for being too sensitive will not ease your problems. In truth, it can worsen everything, considering you are only focusing on negative thoughts.
• Try not to obsess about the littlest things you see or hear. That is called overthinking, and it will only do you harm in the end.
• Take a deep breath and think of how you should react in every situation, especially if it is an awful one. It does not mean you should hide your anger or irritation when you do not feel respected – it just means that you should decide if the person who made you feel that way is worthy of your attention.
• Welcome constructive criticisms. Doing so may feel like encouraging others to throw rocks at you, but you should let them do that and listen to every word objectively. That’s the only way for you to realize your misgiving and improve yourself.
• Understand that not everyone hates you, even if it seems that way. Often, those people you claim to hate you are merely too busy with their lives to caring about yours, so chill.

Is crying a sign of weakness?

No, crying is undoubtedly not a sign of weakness, even though you may have been told in the past that crybabies are losers. Over time, you will realize that crying indicates that you are brave enough to show your negative emotions to others.

Final Thoughts

I struggled with situational depression and anxiety for months. It came to a point when I thought of changing my path instead of breaking the mold. Things only got better when I went to counseling and understood my worth as a person. I became more prepared for my interviews and showed them how I could become an asset to the company. I soon received offers from one but five companies, all wanting me to start immediately.

 

We all know at least one computer programmer in our life. At times we might assume that all they do is play games or hack into other people’s computers or maybe spy on us through our webcams. We can all blame the movies for that because, in all honesty, a computer programmer’s life can be pretty dense. Most of the time, programmers spend their time writing code or thinking about solving problems such as testing for bugs or thinking of how to create a new feature.

Continue reading “Mental Health Of Programmers”

The fates had undoubtedly been unkind to millions of people on the planet. Some either lost their only source of income or got evicted from their homes. Others—the more unfortunate ones—became infected with the coronavirus and had to recuperate without loved ones by their side.

Despite that, there are still a lucky few whose health and job are not at risk because of their chosen careers. We are talking about the people who may be working from home even before the pandemic. E.g., online teachers, freelance writers, and programmers. It is especially true for the latter, who must do everything on a computer.

Now, even if your job has not been affected by this pandemic, it does not entail that you should be a hero and continue overworking. You must spend some days off the job because:

Relaxation Can Strengthen Your Immunity

The ultimate reason you need to take a break during this pandemic is that working too much can weaken anyone’s immune system. From one programmer to another, I know how some folks tend to spend hours on the computer until the wee hours. That may have been fine in the past, but your passion can become a bane, especially now that the coronavirus has practically put a target on everyone’s back.

The quickest way to strengthen your immunity is by prioritizing relaxation. Say, if you cannot leave work behind for an entire day, try to reduce your daily tasks. Doing so will give you enough time for relaxing activities, such as reading, cooking, baking, or at least taking a warm bath. The more me-time you get, the more your immune system will not need to deal with stress hormones. Thus, your body can defend itself against intrusive viruses more effectively.

It Will Help You Avoid Burnout

You see, being overworked does not merely result in weak immunity but also make you experience work burnout. When it happens, you may feel like vomiting the career that you once dedicated your life to. Your mood turns sour whenever you think about it; you come to the office only because you have bills to pay.

It is scary to think of being stuck in a job that you no longer love. That can suffocate you, to the extent that you may try everything to get away from it. If you wish to avoid burnout, be a dear and take a well-deserved break while there is still a pandemic.

You May Develop A Renewed Interest In Programming

It seems familiar in any relationship to find one who seems to be less interested in staying together than the other. This scenario typically occurs when the two have never spent a day without each other in years.

Well, the same idea applies to a programmer and the field. Considering you have been programming 350 out of 365 days, your attraction towards the activity may wane over time until you realize that you have had a change of heart. Therefore, before experiencing that, you should take a break from programming and stay away from codes and computers. Absence is supposed to make the heart grow fonder, so the holiday should help you develop a renewed interest in your career.

Final Thoughts

I understand if you constitute “taking a break” to “slacking off.” That’s what every hard-working individual may say, and it is not too surprising. Despite that, have you ever considered the benefits of spending time off work before today?

If you haven’t, go back to the top of this page and read why programmers—or any workaholic, for that matter—should take a break amid a pandemic.

Good luck!

If you are a COBOL programmer, then you are in luck. Your expertise is needed in some states here in the country, according to Kathy Gurchiek of the SHRM website. She says that COBOL programmers are in demand these days because they can align with workforce planning issues of the government. Well, here is what’s said in her article.

Continue reading “COBOL Programmers Are Badly Needed During The Pandemic”

When you talk about programming in front of someone who has never heard of it before, you cannot expect them to understand it fully for the first time. Some may say, “So, you play around with computers all day long? That sounds so easy! Even my four-year-old kid at home does that.” Others tend to quip, “Being a programmer cannot be better than becoming a doctor.”

Listening to such comments one too many times can undoubtedly make you feel less good about yourself. You may think that nobody appreciates your skills and that it may be more practical to go on another path now before it is too late. The thought may even depress you, to the point that you wreck your computers and quit your job and dream of living under a rock.

The thing is, why should you let ignorant people affect you? They have no idea about the relevance of your job. It sounds mean, but many of them do not have IQ that’s high enough to comprehend programming. If you still feel down, here are a few morale-boosting facts that we would like to share with you.

The Entire World Needs Your Expertise

The first thing to realize is that billions of individuals across the globe rely on the applications on their gadgets to survive every day. For instance, they use their smartphone to text a loved one, ring the alarm, listen to music, and take Instagram-worthy photos. They may also open various websites to answer their questions or sign in to online messaging apps to talk to someone.

Now, aren’t all of these creations of programmers like you? Without your expertise, we may still be seeing supercomputers instead of laptops now. There may not even be Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. I know that you may not be the one to make them, but you get the idea.

Your Contributions May Be Small, But They Are Not Unrecognized By The People Who Matter

Budding programmers tend to feel low because they can only work on small projects such as building a website or maintaining it. They wish that they can develop an app that everyone will want to download in their devices. They do not seem to think that they are doing valuable work by being a part of the tech support team either.

Well, I would advise you against thinking that way. Yes, your projects may not be known to a lot of people. Yes, some strangers lose interest in knowing more about your job when they realize that you do not work for the bigwigs in the tech industry. But what matters is that your bosses, family members, and friends recognize your hard work. I believe that matters more than the opinion of strangers.

Final Thoughts

Why don’t you have a little bit of faith in yourself? Is it easier to listen to your bashers than to your supporters? As you have probably heard by now, what feels easy is rarely the right thing to do. And speaking of supporters, I’ve got the solution for you. BetterHelp is an online platform that can provide you with affordable counseling and therapy. Best of all, you get to do this wherever you are, it is that convenient. Take that leap of faith and get yourself better help.

Keep your chin up and take pride in being a programmer. You owe that to yourself and the field you love.

Cheers!

Have you been accepted to a new company? That’s excellent news! You will no longer have to take part-time jobs or live off of your savings. You can proudly say that you are a programmer, as well.

Now, to be in good terms with the people you meet in the company, you should remember a few communicating tips.

Listen Carefully

The first thing that you should do is to listen well to your bosses and older coworkers. Our working idea here is that you are a newbie in a company. You do not know anyone there, while the others may be in the same office for months or years. They may be following a specific process that you have never heard of before. There may also be new programming tools that you can only find there. If you start on a project without learning about everything, you may end up redoing the task and upsetting your new coworkers.

To help you stay present in a meeting or conversation, turn away from your computer and put your phone into airplane mode. Even better, leave your phone at your desk. — Emma Seppälä Ph.D.

Speak Clearly

I want to think that every company promotes a safe space for all the employees. In that sense, you should be able to raise questions regarding processes that you do not understand. You may also present new ideas without fearing that they will shut it down before you can even finish your words.

The key here is to use your voice and not mumble anything. If you do the opposite of that, who will hear you – the wall?

Disagree Politely

In conjunction with the previous tip, being able to speak well entails that you can express your disagreement towards the things that your bosses want you to do.

For instance, you are asked to develop a game for kids, but some of the designs they are suggesting are for adults. You cannot directly say, “Are you kidding me? That game will not make money!” Instead, you should say, “I love your ideas, boss. However, how do you feel if we do it this or that way?” By talking like that, your superior will not feel humiliated, and so they will be more likely to listen to you than not.

If a message is important, such as a new workplace policy, a directive, scheduling an appointment, and the like, it is important to repeat the message to ensure clarity. — Ronald E Riggio Ph.D.

Participate In Meetings Actively

As a programmer, you need to take part in project meetings actively. That is especially true if you have to work with other programmers. You need to know the output that is expected of you. You should be able to raise objections or suggestions in that instant, too. Otherwise, you may not have a chance to do that as you start a project.

Work Humbly

The last thing that you want is to exude arrogance at work. You cannot strut in the office every day and boast about how excellent your programming skills are. You do not have to do that, primarily if your output can speak for itself. Not to mention, your coworkers may like you less if you are not humble.

Final Thoughts

The duration of your stay in a company not only depends on your technical talents but also on your communicating skills. What good will it do for everyone if you can program applications well but have a rotten attitude, after all?

Be smart and kind so that your coworkers will love you.

Knowing how to build rapport is the basis to experience success and fulfillment in life. — Aldo Civico Ph.D.

Good luck!

Imagine yourself graduating from programming school. Does it feel good to know that you will now be able to show your skills to the rest of the world? Are you excited to start or work on projects that you genuinely care for? 

A programmer is one of the most in-demand workers out there because practically every company relies on computers now. They need someone like you to make software or web applications for them. They need your help with protecting their information from hackers. 

Nevertheless, you can only become a successful programmer if you do the following.

Listen To Consumers

The first thing that you should do is to listen to the people who have commissioned you to do a project. For instance, you have to create a website for an online learning company. Your boss will ideally have an idea about what they should see in it, how many pages should there be, what color schemes will be used, etc.

You cannot say that you will do as your boss asked and not do it because that will make them angry. That person undoubtedly knows their audience more than you do, so you should listen to them. Otherwise, you may get sacked before you can even celebrate your first month at work.

Connect With Your Coworkers

Assuming you enter a company that sells gadgets or software, it is highly possible that you are not the first programmer in the team. There may be individuals there who have more knowledge and experience than you. Some may have even created programming tools that you relied on while you were studying.

If you want to succeed in that company, you need to communicate well with everyone. Not only will it allow you to avoid conflicts, but it will also help you understand the ongoing coding strategies they use. Thus, you can do your job nicely.

Debug The Issues ASAP

Let’s say that you have made a website, and your boss has agreed to launch it soon. It is understandable for you to feel proud and perhaps even celebrate after hearing that good news. However, you should be available to fix any bugs that come before, during, or after the launching date.

Having functionality issues is common, no matter how seasoned the programmer may be. You should not feel down if you wake up one day and see a lot of bug reports on your computer. What you can only do is collect your thoughts and try to debug everything as soon as possible.

Update Your Programming Knowledge All The Time

The world of technology changes faster than the weather. What may be an “in” thing now may already become considered as old tomorrow. You cannot depend on the fact that you are a fresh graduate, so your knowledge base may be more up-to-date than others in your team.

It will help you a great deal if you stay humble and updated on everything related to programming.

Do you dream of being a successful programmer? Remember the tips mentioned above by heart, and you will be a step closer to your goals.

Cheers!

I have always been fascinated with computers ever since I was little. My family could not afford laptops back then, but I could remember my dad turning on a CPU and monitor and typing away for his work. And every time he would let me play around with it, I would ask a lot of things about its functions that usually made him sigh and tell me to play in the backyard. Of course, that’s what I would do, but I held on to my admiration for computers. When I had a chance to study programming in college, therefore, I grabbed the opportunity and never regretted being a programmer.

The thing is, I know that not everyone who studies programming is head over heels in love with it. Some people decide to take this path because they assume that it is easier than becoming a doctor. Others think that what they see at the front-end is the same as what they will have to work with at the back-end. The result of such false ideas is that they struggle with learning programming.

If you are among those individuals but still want to stay in the world of programming, here are a few reminders for you.

You May Be Struggling Because You Are Not Focusing On The Right Type Of Programming For You

The first thing that to remember is that there are various types of programming out there. You can be a web developer, computer systems analyst, database administrator, software programmer, etc. Each type has its attractive points. If you find one challenge, you can try others.

Failing Once Or Seven Times Does Not Mean You Can Never Be An Excellent Programmer

A lot of budding programmers tend to quit down the road when they experience failure one too many times. That is especially true when they happen to have brilliant classmates who can nail every project at first try.

Well, keep in mind that programming is not medicine in which you have to be perfect more often than not. You will be operating on computers, not people. And even if you fail once or a few times while making software, that’s okay. You can always try again tomorrow.

Behind The Struggle May Be A Deep-Seated Fear Of Learning Programming

Moreover, have you ever considered that you are only saying that programming is hard because you are afraid of learning it for real? The field comes with its own set of languages, after all. You will practically have to get your message across in numbers. If you have not tried that before, you may feel overwhelmed at once.

The best thing that you can do is to try to relax before the lessons begin. Ride a bike, perform yoga, or go to your happy place, wherever that is. Doing such relaxing activities may lessen your fears little by little, to the point that you feel confident in your abilities again.

Final Thoughts

Programming, just like any career out there, should be enjoyable for you. That is the only way to stay in this field longer than everyone else. If you are genuinely set on becoming a programmer, you should remember the things mentioned above and get over your issues.

Good luck!