Conquer your impostor syndrome
with JavaScript

Armagan Amcalar

JSConf.be, Brugge

May 30, 2018

Impostor syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence.”
 

— Caltech Counseling Center

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When you make authentic and unpopular choices, it doesn't matter if they are right.

 

People just favor popular choices.

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You tend to ignore

the potential of your choices.

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You try to prove yourself to others.

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Your environment is not always supportive, and it may not be your prime time yet.

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Lack of appreciation doesn't always mean you are not good.

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You feel like you are swimming against the current.

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Welcome to

impostor syndrome.

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Who am I?

Armagan Amcalar
Head of Software Engineering @ unu GmbH
Founder @ Lonca Works

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AUTHORED ON GITHUB

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It all started with

Berlin Hack & Tell

JavaScript is the most powerful thing on Earth.

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First demo

guitar apps with  pedalboard.js

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There's a trophy involved!

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that was a one-time luck.
It means nothing.

 

— your (not so) friendly inner impostor

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Second run
 

Control your devices with MIDI

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Second demo
 

CSS image filter editor
with a MIDI controller

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You are a fraud. You are doing toy projects. No one needs these. That’s why no one does these. That’s why people found them interesting and cute, and that’s why you won.

 

— your enemy, the impostor in you

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Third run

What is the ultimate hack?

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It's open source

Available on GitHub: https://github.com/dashersw/wits

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BRAIN-MONITOR

Available on GitHub: https://github.com/dashersw/brain-monitor

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Open-source P300 speller

that still needs some help!

brain-bits

Available on GitHub: https://github.com/dashersw/brain-bits

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Could I still work in brain signal processing, after all these years?

 

Face the impostor.

Third demo

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Finally, the impostor is gone.

 

or is it?

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Discrimination is real.

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Worry no more.

You are indeed capable of doing literally everything you can imagine.

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It's all possible with JavaScript.

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You don’t deserve to feel bad for your choices. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you chose.

What matters is what you did with that choice and what you achieved.

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thank you!

Let's keep in touch!

Armagan Amcalar

armagan@amcalar.com
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Conquer your impostor syndrome with JavaScript

By Armağan Amcalar

Conquer your impostor syndrome with JavaScript

“Impostor syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence.” — Caltech Counseling Center Have you just started your development career and you are overwhelmed by how little you know? Are you a seasoned veteran but you secretly fear that it’s a matter of time before you lose your edge in this fast-paced industry? If the answer is yes, you may be suffering from the impostor syndrome, and you are not alone. Let Armagan walk you through his own story of overcoming the impostor syndrome, and learn how JavaScript is a vital tool in helping you build not only apps but also confidence. In this keynote, Armagan will present a variety of applications you can build by only knowing JavaScript. Whether it’s a futuristic brain-computer interface, musical instruments, or a whole new way of interacting with your computer; JavaScript lets you build your dream in the most concise way possible and it will be your best ally in battling the impostor syndrome.

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