It’s been a great 16 weeks.
Great has two meanings, of an intensity considerably above average, and of quality considerably above average.
This was an intense programme. I won’t forget the late Thursday nights rushing to finish a client project, nor the pressure we underwent on dashboard week. But it was also great in the other sense of the word. The quality of teaching from our coaches, especially Craig and David, and the passion they brought to us every day is also something I won’t’ forget. Craig, you were the first person I spoke with from the Data School, and throughout these four months, I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you for the energy you’ve shown us, for always making yourself available and providing valuable feedback at every turn. David, I’m without words for the commitment you’ve shown us by flying in from Melbourne every week and passion you’ve brought every day. I’ve learned so much from both of you.
Quality was also in the calibre of our cohort. A lot of people misinterpret what it means for an organisation to embrace diversity. Embracing diversity means having teams where everyone thinks differently. This was, without a doubt, the case here. Everyone in my cohort has a vastly different background and arrived at the data school with a distinct skillset. Because of this, we were able to learn from each other, whether it was Nick bringing Mapbox into the curriculum or Fairuz’s influence causing signatures to appear in everyone’s Dashboards. We also pushed each other to new heights. Everyone wanted to succeed, and the friendly rivalry and competition that resulted caused us to create things wouldn’t have otherwise been possible. There was a real sense of comradery throughout the programme.
From this 16 week experience, I’ve met a bunch of amazing people and made some great friends. Friends I hope to keep in touch with long after this programme ends 🙂 To anyone considering joining the Data School reading this, don’t consider it, because there’s nothing to consider, I really can’t sell this opportunity enough. To anyone reading this from The Data School, thank you, it’s been a wild ride, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity. It has truly been a great 16 weeks.
Thanks for reading my reflection on the first four months of this journey. If you’re considering the Data School, free to connect with me on my LinkedIn, I’m more than happy to share my experience further.
~ Ryan Edwards
Author: Ryan Edwards
BCom BSc from the University of Auckland. Prime Minister’s Scholar & Ex. Toastmasters President.