Software engineering, just like other jobs and vocations, are just that to most people: jobs. You will always have some small minority of people that are going out of their way to attend user groups, seek out communities and contribute, but the majority are just looking to take home a paycheck so they can do other things. I'm sure you've encountered this when in school and I don't think this is any different in the US.
Stop trying to change, or more importantly, judge, people who just don't care. If it's just a job to them, that's fine. Changing diapers is much more immediate to them then github.
If you feel stifled, seek out user groups in your area, spend more time learning on your own and stay active online. Not much else you can do.
I appreciate the candor. If my post suggested that I'm judging people, it was not my intention. I respect people's choices and appreciate that others have priorities different than my own. My goal was to seek ideas as for coping with my need to improve myself, not push others to fall in line. Your idea of local user groups is good, and I'll probably look into it.
Very well said. Most developpers I know consider it a day job, they do it, generally well, collect their money and get on with their lives.
I suspect most people on this board, most certainly including myself, are not like that. But we are the minority and I have nothing against the majority that wants to do that.
As to practical suggestions for the OP to keep growing: Find a community of people like you. My expertise is in SQL and I used to attend the local user group meetings (it now conflicts with my night classes in grad school). I still both write for and read sites like www.sqlservercentral.com where I can participate in the community in a virtual sense at least.
Also, you may want to consider going back to grad school, if your schedule permits it. It gives you a ready made community of smart people pursuing things at least vaguely in your field. This is more important than the classes or the piece of paper at the end, but that piece of paper can make a nice addition the next time you are in the job market.
Comments
Software engineering, just like other jobs and vocations, are just that to most people: jobs. You will always have some small minority of people that are going out of their way to attend user groups, seek out communities and contribute, but the majority are just looking to take home a paycheck so they can do other things. I'm sure you've encountered this when in school and I don't think this is any different in the US.
Stop trying to change, or more importantly, judge, people who just don't care. If it's just a job to them, that's fine. Changing diapers is much more immediate to them then github.
If you feel stifled, seek out user groups in your area, spend more time learning on your own and stay active online. Not much else you can do.
I appreciate the candor. If my post suggested that I'm judging people, it was not my intention. I respect people's choices and appreciate that others have priorities different than my own. My goal was to seek ideas as for coping with my need to improve myself, not push others to fall in line. Your idea of local user groups is good, and I'll probably look into it.
Very well said. Most developpers I know consider it a day job, they do it, generally well, collect their money and get on with their lives.
I suspect most people on this board, most certainly including myself, are not like that. But we are the minority and I have nothing against the majority that wants to do that.
As to practical suggestions for the OP to keep growing: Find a community of people like you. My expertise is in SQL and I used to attend the local user group meetings (it now conflicts with my night classes in grad school). I still both write for and read sites like www.sqlservercentral.com where I can participate in the community in a virtual sense at least.
Also, you may want to consider going back to grad school, if your schedule permits it. It gives you a ready made community of smart people pursuing things at least vaguely in your field. This is more important than the classes or the piece of paper at the end, but that piece of paper can make a nice addition the next time you are in the job market.