When I was picking my senior project, I knew I wanted to do something that combined a couple of things I’ve always found interesting, mobile development and navigation systems. I love how mobile apps connect us, especially because I spend so much time on my phone. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I opened Pinterest on my laptop just to scroll. Everything is on my phone for me, so naturally, mobile development just felt like the right fit.
But when we started diving into the actual work, I realized not everyone sees things the same way. I knew my teammates were aiming for a native app, and at first, I didn’t think much of it. I thought, “Sure, we’ll get a native app working in three quarters, no big deal.” But as we got into the details, we realized that it was way more time-consuming than we had imagined. And the thing is, I didn’t really share my thoughts with them when I should had. Instead of saying, “Hey, maybe we should start with a mobile app,” I just went with the flow. We ended up starting with a web app.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the app and I’m not complaining. I didn’t let them know, and that’s on me. It was easier to let others take the lead than to voice my opinion, even though I felt strongly about it. Looking back, though, that was a wake-up call. It reminded me that just because something makes sense to me, doesn’t mean it makes sense to everyone else. People are drawn to different technologies, and as engineers, we each have our own preferences and interests. This whole process has really shown me how diverse our approaches can be.
With only two weeks left in the quarter, here’s what three months of work has taught me:
Communicate What You Think:
If I don’t share what I think, others won’t know. For example, I felt that the app would work better on mobile, especially with the maps and photos (it just seemed like it would be more intuitive for users). I should’ve said something to the team, and maybe we could’ve worked on a mobile app for our demo instead of a web app. But that’s on me for not sharing my thinking process with them earlier.
People Think Differently, and That’s Totally Fine:
I’ve learned that everyone has a different perspective, and that’s actually a good thing. I’ve seen how Escher has created beautiful designs for our web app, and he’s really stepped up as a leader in guiding the team. It’s been awesome seeing how much he brings to the table, and I’m grateful for his input. It’s taught me that having a variety of ideas can only make the project better.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work:
What I’ve really enjoyed is working with my teammates. They’re focused, hardworking, and I know I can count on them. It’s not just about the tech, though; it’s about the way we all work together. Even though I’m learning new technologies that I’m not super familiar with, the collaboration and support from my team make it all worth it.
At the end of the day, this project isn’t just about the tech we’re using or what technologies I like. It’s about learning how to communicate better, how to work with people who think differently, and how to focus on the bigger picture which is creating something that works. Sure, there have been some challenges, but I’m excited to keep learning and seeing where this project takes me.
