Hello Desiré,
first of all, a due disclaimer, which you won't like to read (and I'd prefer not to write): the Dunning-Kruger effect is real, affects many of us and must be always taken into account when approaching new fields, technologies, and methodologies.
Once you've double-checked you are effectively good as you think you are (which I've no reason to doubt, especially considering what you say about your side-gigs), you should keep in mind a couple of things:
1) Women are discriminated in many fields, and IT is not an exception. Get used to it, while fighting to change it with your achievements.
2) Young age is generally perceived badly if you're good: you're a menace to people of your age, whom you're in direct competition with, and a shame to many elders, showing them they're not as good as you despite their years of work.
3) Soft skills are FUNDAMENTALS as hard skills. Being able to communicate ideas, advancements, proof of concepts, as well as problems, pitfalls, dangers is something extremely important in a world where your brain cannot communicate directly with the brain of others but needs to pass through your body - and theirs. At 23, if you're not a natural, you're likely failing badly at that.
You should start to study how to talk, what to say, how to gesture (body language is critical to basically everything in life), etcetera.
Unattended situations will still take you by surprise, but you'll react faster, and better.
Soft skills also comprise being able to craft a good resume, stand out in (the psychological parts of) interviews, and negotiate a proper salary.
It doesn't matter how good you are if you can't get the job to demonstrate it, or if you take the job but are not able to take the credits for it or dodge the bullets when it's not your fault.
ALL OF THIS SAID: if you've been disrespected, it's time to find another job immediately. If there's a lack of respect, that's a toxic environment, and you need to run from it ASAP.
Good luck for your future, and go on with your side-gigs, they're terrific at improving soft skills like writing, talking and planning.
Hope that helps
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Hello Desiré,
first of all, a due disclaimer, which you won't like to read (and I'd prefer not to write): the Dunning-Kruger effect is real, affects many of us and must be always taken into account when approaching new fields, technologies, and methodologies.
Once you've double-checked you are effectively good as you think you are (which I've no reason to doubt, especially considering what you say about your side-gigs), you should keep in mind a couple of things:
1) Women are discriminated in many fields, and IT is not an exception. Get used to it, while fighting to change it with your achievements.
2) Young age is generally perceived badly if you're good: you're a menace to people of your age, whom you're in direct competition with, and a shame to many elders, showing them they're not as good as you despite their years of work.
3) Soft skills are FUNDAMENTALS as hard skills. Being able to communicate ideas, advancements, proof of concepts, as well as problems, pitfalls, dangers is something extremely important in a world where your brain cannot communicate directly with the brain of others but needs to pass through your body - and theirs.
At 23, if you're not a natural, you're likely failing badly at that.
You should start to study how to talk, what to say, how to gesture (body language is critical to basically everything in life), etcetera.
Unattended situations will still take you by surprise, but you'll react faster, and better.
Soft skills also comprise being able to craft a good resume, stand out in (the psychological parts of) interviews, and negotiate a proper salary.
It doesn't matter how good you are if you can't get the job to demonstrate it, or if you take the job but are not able to take the credits for it or dodge the bullets when it's not your fault.
ALL OF THIS SAID: if you've been disrespected, it's time to find another job immediately. If there's a lack of respect, that's a toxic environment, and you need to run from it ASAP.
Good luck for your future, and go on with your side-gigs, they're terrific at improving soft skills like writing, talking and planning.
Hope that helps