<p>It’s been 3 months now and I work as a part-time Software Developer Coach (JavaScript) with <a href="http://raise.dev/&quot; target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Raise.dev</a>. During this term I have been mentoring for the <a href="https://fellowship.mlh.io/&quot; target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Major League Hacking – MLH Fellowship</a> program. The graduation is on 18th December and I was asked to record a ~2 minute graduation speech.</p>n<h2 id="major-league-hacking—mlh-graduation-speech-december-2020"><a href="#major-league-hacking—mlh-graduation-speech-december-2020" aria-hidden class="anchor"><svg aria-hidden="true" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a>Major League Hacking – MLH graduation speech December 2020</h2>n<p>The following is an excerpt from my graduation speech to the MLH fellows graduating in December 2020.</p>n<p>Hello everyone, congratulations to the graduating batch. You have come this far, finished a term successfully despite the pandemic, so this is something you will definitely cherish one day. At the beginning of the fellowship, we had a Q&A and one fellow asked -</p>n<h3 id="does-life-as-a-software-developer-ever-get-boring-after-years-of-work"><a href="#does-life-as-a-software-developer-ever-get-boring-after-years-of-work" aria-hidden class="anchor"><svg aria-hidden="true" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a>Does life as a software developer ever get boring after years of work?</h3>n<p>Now that you have completed a term, I would like to answer by asking all of you,</p>n<ul>n<li>How does it feel? Are you bored?</li>n<li>Was it challenging?</li>n<li>Were the days exciting?</li>n<li>Did you think of giving up?</li>n</ul>n<p>Now, take a moment to reflect on the thing you did prior to this fellowship. It could be your college graduation, or a recent university exam. Do you notice any similarities with the questions I just asked?</p>n<ul>n<li>Boring</li>n<li>Challenging</li>n<li>Exciting</li>n<li>Give up</li>n</ul>n<p>Life as a software developer too goes through these phases, most of the time!</p>n<h2 id="failures-and-success"><a href="#failures-and-success" aria-hidden class="anchor"><svg aria-hidden="true" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a>Failures and success</h2>n<p>Failures will come along the way; you may not get your desired promotion or it might take a lot of time until you land your first job.</p>n<p>When I graduated in 2009, almost 11 years ago, there was a global recession and things didn’t go as planned for me. I cried a lot the day after my first failed job interview. It was the first biggest failure for me.</p>n<p>Looking back at it, If I were to <a href="../lessons-from-my-younger-self">advice</a> my younger self, then I would say that everything happens for good.</p>n<p>If you aren’t being rejected more than accepted, you’re not asking for enough, reaching high enough and valuing yourself enough. Try new things, do things you are scared of. </p>n<h2 id="goals-and-habits"><a href="#goals-and-habits" aria-hidden class="anchor"><svg aria-hidden="true" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a>Goals and habits</h2>n<p>If the plan does not work, change the plan, have a plan B! Avoid changing the goal itself! Most importantly, have a goal in your life, always!</p>n<p>It’s the tiny habits that you will cultivate along the way that will help you shape your career into a successful one. Be honest, trustworthy and be true to yourself and your job.</p>n<p>Don’t be guilty if you decide to binge watch Netflix or just get a good sleep and enjoy being lazyful over the weekends.</p>n<p>Take breaks, drink water, workout, focus on your health. Health is wealth.</p>n<p>Nothing is easy and you need to keep learning and working hard all the time. Work hard, but smart!</p>n<p>I wish you all the best!</p>n <div style="margin-top=55px; font-style: italic;">(This is an article posted to my blog at princiya.com/blog. You can read it online by <a href="https://atomic-temporary-42700218.wpcomstaging.com/blog/does-life-get-boring/">clicking here</a>.)</div>