My Experience at the She Code Africa Mentoring Programme, Cohort 3 (Part 2)
So I know this is pretty late to share a Part Two of my experience at the She Code Africa Mentoring Programme (December 2020) but I had kinda said I would in the first part so this is me keeping to my word. Another reason I am choosing to do a part two is because I really want people to know that the She Code Africa is a cool community to be a part of. I have met people that I love and admire from that community. All of which I physically haven’t even met. Lol.
So I have just one major experience I would like to share. The Mentoring Programme became kinda overwhelming because I had the opportunity to stretch myself. So while going through my mentoring programme, I applied for the Digital Explorer Programme. I had never applied for anything like that before. You can look them up here. So this was me applying for an Internship position in Lithuania as a Data Analyst.
It wasn’t really about leaving the country although that was some serious motivation, but it was really about me proving to myself that I was worthy and I was capable and that I could. When I informed my mentor about the programme, she was excited about it, about us seeing what it meant to apply for a role. About three of us under the same mentor had qualified and passed through the first stage. We qualified and went through several other stages that included oral interviews and other kinds of tests. I had never held on to hope as much as I did that period. I remember Mentor Funmi saying “Gold, you have to do all you can to keep going, take out time, study and practice” She thought I didn’t have as much belief in myself as I should. She probably was right but each time I qualified and went through another stage, I had just a little bit more faith.
Things were a bit stressful for me but I kept going. Aside the self motivation I had, I always thought of these ladies that I was on a journey with. How they’d encourage me and all. I remember one night when I had a minor accident because I had forgotten my laptop charger at work and I was going back to get it from work. I had some assignment to submit the following day. It was such a crazy day (cos I still remember it clearly after a year). That day, I was tired to my bones but I had all the encouragement I needed, from Iniobong Nwa, from Funmi, my mentor and Funmi my fellow mentee. Maybe I wouldn’t have gone as far as I did if I didn’t have these people. When I got dropped out of the Digital Explorer Application process which felt like a Programme already, I didn’t feel too bad, I knew the people I competed with were really good. I knew if I invested more time to learning, I could go beyond what the Digital Explorer Programme offered.
I had the She Code Africa family when I greatly needed her and I just can’t forget it. I don’t know how to.
My final project wasn’t as good as I would have wanted it to be because I didn’t have enough time juggling through the Digital Explorer application processes, my job and the Mentoring programme but it was sure okay. When I got my certificate from the She Code Africa mentoring programme in December 2020, I felt really confident I had earned the Certificate. I had learned alot.
This is more than a year now, but then, Thank you She Code Africa! Take this as a sign that you are on the right path, helping and changing Lives!
