Ivan
Ivan
Posted on July 22, 2024
From a young age, I was captivated by technology. When I first got a computer, I would break it and fix it, driven by an insatiable curiosity.
In 2017, I began to wonder how mobile applications work. Questions flooded my mind: How can millions of people interact with the same app? What happens behind the scenes when I push a button? How had I missed these innovations? Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Netflix were transforming how we communicate and entertain ourselves.
My passion and curiosity continued to grow, leading me to aspire to become one of those incredible software engineers who create impactful apps. I enrolled in a Web Development Bootcamp at General Assembly in Boston, MA. However, upon completing the Bootcamp, I felt disappointed. While I had built a responsive website with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it was far from the complex apps I admired.
Life's demands and responsibilities, temporarily shifted my focus. Despite being exhausted after work, my passion and curiosity for technology never waned. In 2019, I decided to pursue a community college education to build a stronger programming foundation.
By the time I was a senior in college, I had a solid grasp of programming, databases, and web development. However, I realized I needed to learn modern libraries and frameworks and understand real-world development. I joined another Bootcamp, this time with Generation USA, a non-profit organization. There, I learned modern web development with HTML5, React, JavaScript ES6, Bootstrap, and more. Crucially, I also learned to shape my resume and deliver projects using agile methodologies. This six-month Bootcamp taught me how web development works in the real world.
As a result, I landed my first web developer job at Hyland Software, where I deepened my knowledge of web app architectures, .NET Core, functional programming with F#, and maintaining legacy systems built with C#. It was an amazing experience.
During my time at Hyland Software, people who trusted my abilities began approaching me to build web apps and websites. Over time, I have built several responsive websites for non-profit organizations and small businesses.
My journey in technology has been a blend of passion, curiosity, and continuous learning. From fixing my first computer to developing professional-grade web applications, I have enjoyed every step of the way. I look forward to creating more innovative solutions and making a meaningful impact through technology.