Hey, Graduate! Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
As a junior software engineer with experience in Golang and a medical student, I'm someone who enjoys tackling challenges and solving problems. I have a curious and inquisitive nature, and I'm always eager to learn and expand my knowledge in various fields. Outside of work and school, I'm an outgoing individual who loves spending time with others. I enjoy playing board games with friends, which allows me to exercise my strategic thinking skills and have fun at the same time. I also love participating in sports, including basketball, table tennis, squash, and volleyball. These activities keep me active and energized, and I enjoy the friendly competition that they offer. I come from a small town called Dulovo, where the sense of community is strong. This has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the importance of relationships and connection with others. I am an extremely motivated person who is always looking for ways to grow and improve, both personally and professionally. Overall, I would describe myself as someone who is determined, outgoing, and always eager to learn. Whether I'm working on a project or hanging out with friends, I'm always striving to be my best self and to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.
How did you decide to pursue a career in IT?
I've always been interested in technology, even from a young age. I remember being able to install Windows operating system, drivers, games, burn CDs with Nero and fix typical errors and issues when I was just in second grade. I was always that go-to friend who could solve any tech issue. However, at my last year in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to study. My friends and classmates were all interested in pursuing medicine. I was being told by my relatives that I couldn’t go wrong with medicine, I’ll have my future figured out easily after graduation. So I followed the herd. Three years in and I still couldn’t make myself like it. I felt lost, and afraid of making the wrong choice. Spent two more years struggling. I will never forget the day I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue something that I was truly passionate about: technology. I started studying Java, and after just four months, I felt like a beast. I was hungry for knowledge, motivated to succeed, and determined to make a hell of a career out of this. It was the only way I could see to escape my fear of a future with no direction. That's when I discovered Scalefocus Academy, and it felt like everything just fell into place. The program offered the perfect blend of theory and practical experience, and I knew it was the perfect fit for me. I dove in headfirst, determined to learn as much as possible and prove to myself that I could make a successful career out of my true passion.
What inspired you to apply for the Academy?
What inspired me to apply for Scalefocus Academy was my interest in learning the Go programming language. When I was first introduced to Go, I was immediately drawn to its simplicity and speed. I loved how easy it was to write clean, efficient code that ran quickly and smoothly. I was particularly impressed with the language's support for concurrency, which I knew would be essential for building high-performance, scalable systems. I saw the potential for Go to be a game-changer in the world of software development, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of that. That's when I discovered Scalefocus Academy, and I knew that it was the perfect place for me. The Academy's focus on hands-on, practical experience was exactly what I was looking for. I knew that I would be able to dive deep into Go and gain the skills and knowledge I needed to become a proficient developer. And the fact that the Academy had a supportive community of fellow students and knowledgeable instructors only made it more appealing.
Was it hard to balance between the Academy and your everyday life?
Balancing the demands of Scalefocus Academy and my everyday life was definitely a challenge, but I was determined to make it work. As a medical student, I already had a lot on my plate, and adding the Academy to the mix meant that my schedule was pretty packed. However, I was committed to making the most of this opportunity and learning as much as I could, so I made a conscious effort to manage my time effectively. I created a schedule that allowed me to attend the Academy's classes and complete the necessary university studying, while still fulfilling my other responsibilities. There were definitely times when I had to make sacrifices and give up my free time in order to stay on top of things, but I knew that it was worth it in the long run. I was motivated by the prospect of building a successful career in IT and making a difference in the world through technology. Overall, while it wasn't always easy to balance the demands of the Academy and my other commitments, I was able to find a way to make it work. And looking back, I'm glad that I stuck with it and pushed myself to learn and grow as hard as possible.
Did you manage to bond with the others from the Academy (students, mentor and tutors)?
Yes, I was able to bond with several of the students during my time at Scalefocus Academy. Although we all came from different backgrounds and had different levels of experience, we shared a common interest in learning and growing as IT professionals. The Academy created a collaborative and supportive environment, which made it easier for us to connect and form relationships. We worked on the same tasks, discussed challenging concepts, and provided each other with feedback and support. While I was initially a bit hesitant to open up to others, I soon realized that the other students were going through similar experiences and were eager to connect and form friendships. I was able to bond with a few of them in particular, and we still keep in touch even after the Academy has ended. It's amazing to see how much we've all grown and developed since our time at the Academy, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of such a supportive and inspiring community.
Describe the 90-day journey with 1 word.
I would describe the 90-day journey at the Scalefocus Academy as "transformative". The experience helped me do the first and most important step into the IT sphere, challenged me in new ways and provided me with the tools and knowledge I needed to succeed in it. It was a truly transformative experience that has set me up for success in my career.