In the ever-evolving landscape of the corporate world, the importance of education and skill development cannot be overstated. In our pursuit of excellence, we often turn to the leaders who guide us through this dynamic terrain. Today, we invite you to step into the enlightening world of our very own Educational Manager at Social Hackers Academy, a visionary who is at the forefront of shaping our learning initiatives. We are delighted to have you, Yasmeen, at our desk!
SHA: Hello Yasmeen, it’s wonderful to have you here. Your positive and motivating energy is truly inspiring. Could you share with us what fuels your consistently upbeat state?
Yasmeen: I must admit that maintaining a consistently positive state of mind is not something I experience all the time, but what really drives me is the rewarding feeling of being part of a transformative journey in someone else’s life. When faced with challenges and work stress, I always remind myself that these are inevitable aspects of any job.
Moreover, having the support of amazing teammates and students who genuinely appreciate the effort and dedication I put into my work is incredibly motivating. I feel their love and commitment through the feedback, messages, and interactions, which fuels my passion even more. Their appreciation serves as a reminder of the positive impact I can make in their lives, and it reinforces my commitment to contributing my best efforts to the team and those I serve.
SHA: Tell us more about yourself. Where do you come from? How was your educational journey through the years?
Yasmeen: I am originally from Palestine, where I was born and raised. Throughout my educational journey, I completed all my studies in Palestine. I have a degree in telecommunication engineering and achieved a commendable academic record, earning the third position in my class. After graduating, I worked as a project coordinator for a year and a half. However, I decided to make a career switch and take a chance by venturing into the world of coding. To pursue this new path, I moved to Jordan for a four-month intensive coding bootcamp. The experience was both challenging and rewarding.
Following the bootcamp, I worked in Jordan for nearly one and a half years as a Hacker In Residence (HIR) at the same BootCamp. During this time, I improved my coding skills and gained valuable practical experience in the field before finally returning back to Palestine.
SHA: As the Head of Education, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping the learning experiences of our students. Can you describe a memorable teaching moment that had a significant impact on your own approach to education?
Yasmeen: In high school, my Arabic language teacher left a note on my book after being impressed with the text I wrote. The note read, “I hope you become an influential figure in society.” This moment left a lasting impact on my approach to education.
The second situation occurred during my university studies in one of my specialized courses, which was considered challenging to pass. However, I managed to achieve the highest grade.
This success was mainly due to the big belief and support of my professor, who had previously taught me a different subject where I had excelled, even though I had faced the obstacle of being away for three weeks during that semester. His confidence in my abilities was evident during one of the lectures when some students were expressing their concerns. He reassured the class by stating, “I have full faith that Yasmeen will excel in this course.”
The idea from both situations is that all we need is someone who believes in our abilities, encourages us, and acknowledges our achievements. These moments highlighted the significance of having supportive educators who can positively influence students and inspire them to achieve their full potential.
SHA: How do you manage your work-life balance? Do you have some hobbies or activities that you practice along the way?
Yasmeen: Managing work-life balance can be challenging, especially with remote work, and I should admit I am not the best one at achieving this balance, but I always strive to improve and find ways to do so. Apart from coding and work, I have a passion for photography, and I often take the opportunity to capture beautiful moments. Spending quality time with my nephews brings me joy and allows me to unwind from work-related responsibilities. I also enjoyed preparing handmade things, the process of creating something with your own hands can bring joy and satisfaction.
SHA: Creativity and critical thinking are essential skills for students to thrive in the modern world. How do you incorporate creative and analytical thinking into the curriculum, and what strategies do you employ to encourage students to develop these skills?
Yasmeen: Absolutely, I do believe that learning to code naturally encourages creativity and critical thinking as students engage in problem-solving and tackle real-life challenges. By applying coding principles to find solutions, students naturally enhance their abilities in these essential skills.
in our course, we make sure to improve these skills (creativity and critical thinking ) in many ways, starting from giving very simple mathematical questions and code challenges where the students learn to organize their thoughts and convert them into coding in the right sequence using the right technique (planning, step-by-step analysis, and then translating ideas into functional code), to build a complete project that solve a real problems from their local context.
Also, we have the pairing system and the live coding solutions sessions where we give the students the chance to strengthen their creative thinking by exploring innovative approaches to problem-solving. Additionally, they refine their critical thinking abilities by evaluating different solutions, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and making informed decisions to create effective and efficient code.
SHA: As humans, we have our own values. Which are yours?
Yasmeen: Respect, empathy and excellence in whatever I do.
SHA: Are you a person who always needs to have a specific goal?
Yasmeen: No I am not . Instead, I find it sufficient to focus on my current tasks and continuously seek ways to improve them. However, when I do make a decision to start/ try something, I make sure to develop a well-thought-out plan to guide my actions.
SHA: What is a success for you?
Yasmeen: Do your best within the given time and the available resources.
SHA: If you only had 3 words for motivation to give to the people who want to start your journey or to change a career, which would they be?
Yasmeen: Start, Believe, Achieve.
SHA: What’s your favourite quote you tell your students?
Yasmeen: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
SHA: What would you say to a potential student to follow our journey with our course and become a web developer?
Yasmeen: Becoming a web developer opens up a world of excitement and possibilities. The best part is that you don’t require any special qualifications to begin your coding journey. All it truly takes is commitment and a genuine desire to learn.
With dedication and effort, you’ll be amazed at the remarkable results you can achieve. Coding is indeed accessible to everyone, regardless of age or background. However, it’s essential to recognize that you might not immediately fall in love with coding, and that’s okay. The beauty lies in giving it a try to discover whether it ignites a passion within you.
So, don’t be afraid to take that first step. Dive into coding, explore its wonders, and see if it resonates with you. You’ll never know what incredible opportunities await unless you give it a chance. Embrace the uncertainty, for it’s in trying new things that we uncover our true passions and potential.
Once you decide to join our courses, you will become a valued member of a team that truly understands the challenges you may encounter as a learner. We have personally experienced similar doubts and uncertainties about our coding abilities and the potential outcomes of learning to code.
Because we can relate to what you might be going through, our commitment is to provide you with the best learning experience possible. We will support and guide you every step of the way, ensuring that you have the resources and encouragement needed to succeed. Our aim is to create an environment that nurtures growth and fosters success in your coding journey.
and at the end, we as developers always say, “Talk is cheap, show me the code”, so I’ll say, “Actions speak louder. Join us to experience the difference“.
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