Be your own cheerleader | Writing my own script

You define your own life: don’t let others write your script

“It’s easy to get discouraged when people say negative things about your plans. I know this all too well. Been there, felt that…” says Bouchra as we start talking. Born and raised in Morocco, Bouchra decided she wanted to continue her studies in Germany. To meet the enrollment requirements of a German University, Bouchra had to master the German language in just 6 months - this seemed daunting to many. “People told me that German was a really complex language, and I would not manage to learn it within just half a year,” Bouchra recalls. It's a sentiment that many of us can relate to—the skepticism and doubt of those around us threatening to undermine our aspirations.

“If you don’t design your own life plan,

chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.”

“When I was younger, words like these would really affect me in a negative way. Back then, I might have even let it stop me. Now I know what I want to do, I make my own plans, and no one can tell me what I can or can’t do, or what my capabilities are,” she asserts with conviction.” To put her experience in the words of Jim Rohn: “If you don’t design your own life plan (and stick to it either way!), chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.”

Moving to Bremen, Germany

“I was very motivated and successfully completed the intensive 6-months German language course. And here I am, still in Germany, exactly 5 years and 3 months later.” Bouchra is counting the days, and counting down to when she gets to see her family in Morocco again. “I moved all by myself to Germany, and as a family person, it’s at times quite difficult to be so far away. Luckily, my homesickness is OK now that I have really embarked on my chapter here.”

⭐️ Be your own best cheerleader, not your own worst critic

When Bouchra no longer let others discourage her, she realized she also had to find her way not to discourage herself anymore. “I have this inner critic that would easily discourage me and could hold me back. I’ve learned, and sometimes am still learning, to become my own source of encouragement and silence my inner critic to be my own cheerleader instead. Recognizing my negative thoughts and challenging those by replacing them with positive self-talk mostly helps me in this.

Life at ORTEC

After a rather challenging journey marked by unpaid internships, a job as a mathematics teacher in Morocco, intensive language courses, and the pursuit of her master’s degree, Bouchra joined ORTEC as a working student in the development team in 2021. This marked her initial exposure to software development, and the start of her career as a woman in tech. When asking her what she likes about her current role as Software Engineer, she answers: “What I enjoy most about my job is the challenge of solving complex problems and developing impactful solutions. I appreciate the continuous learning opportunities, the chance to work with new technologies, and the collaboration with a talented team.”

👩‍💻 Being a woman in tech

“For me, entering the tech world was a great opportunity to get out of my comfort zone. I’m happy to have been consistently encouraged by my family and friends in this field. While acknowledging that women in tech can encounter challenges, I firmly believe it’s ultimately their prerogative how to address and navigate them. I love my career and the best advice I can give the future generation of women in tech: please don’t let others – or your own inner critic - discourage you.”