Got my first mentee last month and she's found more gaps in my knowledge than any interview has

She asks "why" about things I've been doing on autopilot since 2023. Half the time my honest answer is "that's just how this codebase does it", and then I go and find out the real reason after the call so I can come back with something better.

Nobody warned me that mentoring is a diagnostic on yourself. It's humbling in a way I think is good for me, but some days it does feel a bit fraudulent standing there as the experienced one.

Anyone else find that teaching someone junior exposed more than any interview ever did?