I do what I do

I am software engineer by trade and by choice. Sometimes I forget that not everyone wanted to be in the line of work they are in. Because I enjoy what I am do I am infinitely interested in it both inside and outside of work. My particular area of focus has always been architecture. I like putting together the little pieces but I cherish tackling the more complex decisions and planning involved in software architecture. While I respect that not everyone likes what they are doing, I tire of working with people that just "go through the motions". Maybe it sounds a little corny in this day and age but at the end of the day I want to be proud of what I do. I want to know that did best I could on each project. Often times I reflect back and see the areas in which I have improved or that could use improvement. I do not lament that past projects were not done better because I know that I did the best I could for that project with the knowledge and skills I possessed at the time. I've been at this career now for about 11 years. In the beginning many aspects of my youth hampered my creditability. After all its hard for a company to bill you out as a Senior level at the age of 25. When you add Senior to your title people expect you to look more the part. In the beginning I was more than likely a little full of myself, but time, experience, and persistence helped me overcome initial perceptions and create my own. Often times I know that my earnest interest in my trade and in advancing my knowledge has made some coworkers defensive. I have learned to worry less about the ridicule and focus more on doing what is right at the time. In the past I have taken a more timid approach to confrontations, simply backing down from a stance to avoid a conflict. Within this past year or two however I have really focused accepting opposing arguments without backing down from my own position. I really believe that this change has paid off. When I have been proven wrong I have learned from that proof and more than often when I am right it is more recognized because I stood by my view.