Outside of the web development world, I usually spend my time immersed in synthetic sounds and digital arts. My entire life has been immersed in the digital world, even before I realized my potential as a software developer.

Let me share with you how it all began and led me to this point...

The Beginning

I was just a kid born in the city. Every evening, I put on wired headphones, plugged them into my Sony Walkman, wandered the streets, and immersed myself in trance music. It was during these moments that I allowed my senses to absorb the vibrant energy of the city and its people. Occasionally, I would capture candid moments and cityscapes through my lens, only to return home and edit them for sheer enjoyment.

Transition

As I grew up, I transitioned from relying solely on buses and skytrains to riding a bicycle. I was captivated by the sensation of the wind breezing through me as I swiftly pedaled forward. It provided a unique experience, faster than walking yet slower than driving, just enough for me to immerse in my surroundings.

Later on, I decided to get a cycling computer, which sparked my curiosity and led me down a path of intense research in the field of sports science. I became determined to enhance my physical capabilities and surpass the limits of my own analyzed biometric data.

A couple of years later, I found myself being recruited into numerous cycling communities and participating in racing tours across the country. Additionally, I had the privilege of working as a staff member for prominent cycling brands like Endomondo, Strava, and Rapha.

After gaining experience from traveling to various places, my passion for photography grew stronger. I desired to enhance the fidelity of my captures, which led me to purchase my first mirrorless camera.

The file data produced by a real camera expanded my capabilities to manipulate and process images even further. Once again, I delved deep into research within the field of image processing.

A couple more years passed, during which I dedicated myself to honing both my capturing and post-processing skills. Through diligent practice, my work began to gain recognition, ultimately leading me to become a freelance photographer.

Web3

I initially started my journey in Web3 and later transitioned into Web2 development. It all began during the bull run market when I actively participated in numerous Web3 communities. At first, I focused on trading exclusively on centralized exchanges. As time went on, I ventured into off-ramp trading on decentralized exchanges and became deeply involved in various communities.

Utilizing my aesthetic skills, such as color grading, photography, typography, and graphic design, I began assisting multiple startup teams. I enthusiastically supported numerous start-up teams, driven by the passion to see the impact of my work in the digital world. As a result, this led to my first contract work as a graphic designer for a Web3 project team.

After a few months, armed with practical experience gained from supporting different teams in various capacities, I established my own team. As a product designer and manager, I juggled a multitude of responsibilities such as team recruitment, design work, trading, community moderation, and more.

However, despite my involvement in diverse roles, there was one aspect I had yet to fully grasp - web development. Previously, my team and I would rely on hiring developers to set up our websites using our assets. That's when I started diving into web development research. In no time, I became proficient enough to utilize templates and update content independently. Subsequently, I began accumulating reusable components, both for my own side-projects and for teams affiliated with mine. The more I learned, the deeper I immersed myself in web development abstraction. Eventually, I delegated my previous responsibilities to other team members, allowing me to focus primarily on web development!

Web2

Once the crypto bull run came to an end, I made a conscious decision to dedicate myself to full-time web development learning from the comfort of my bedroom. I immersed myself in a vast array of online resources, ranging from tutorial videos on platforms like YouTube, online courses, insightful blogs, and even the ever-reliable Stack Overflow. It's safe to say that I explored a wide range of sources, absorbing knowledge from each of them.

During this period, I began exploring frameworks such as React.JS, while also familiarizing myself with the terminal and command line interface. My focus primarily revolved around my studying routines, as I dedicated countless hours to acquiring new skills and expanding my understanding of web development.

Full-Time Web Development

Full Stack Academy

I felt the need for a more structured and comprehensive learning experience. Therefore, I made the decision to enroll in the Full Stack Web Development program at the University of Illinois - Chicago. This intensive 12-week program provided me with a full-time immersive environment to enhance my web development skills.

During the program, I confronted the aspects and tools that I had previously avoided, realizing that they were indispensable to my growth. Furthermore, the areas where I already possessed strength underwent further refinement at a fundamental level. The boot camp provided invaluable guidance on how modern web applications should be designed and developed.

While the journey was challenging, I approached it with unwavering determination and a clear vision of success. Looking back at the end of the program, I was astounded by my own capability to absorb a vast amount of knowledge and swiftly apply it in a condensed and intense timeframe.

Freelancing

Following my graduation, I took a small break to digest all the information. During this time, I actively sought opportunities to implement my skills in real-world applications. I began taking on freelance projects from both local and online communities, where my tasks involved creating landing pages and websites. This freelance work provided me with invaluable experience and allowed me to continuously explore and experiment with new frameworks and tools.

By the way, I love Svelte : )

What Now?

That brings us to today.

While I'm still working as a freelance developer and continuously implementing new cutting-edge frameworks and tools, I have reached a point where I feel the need to transition into a more formal working environment that can provide me with greater opportunities and hands-on experience in full-scale projects and product collaborations.

I am actively seeking a full-time development role that aligns with my passion and allows me to leverage my diverse skill set. Throughout my journey as a developer, I have always had a strong inclination towards learning new technologies and adapting to different working environments, whether it was in the field of photography, color processing, blockchain, or exploring new meta-frameworks like Astro (which you're currently experiencing on this website!).

The ability to adapt and learn quickly has consistently been one of my strongest traits, and I am eager to apply these skills to my next adventure. I am excited to join a team where I can contribute my expertise, collaborate on challenging projects, and continue to expand my knowledge in the ever-evolving world of web development.