Escaping from comfort zone to be comfortable.
My story starts from the moment when I was writing my bachelor’s thesis. In 2013, while majoring in Urban Planning and having only one semester left, I was struggling with my graduation thesis. One of the research assistant professors in the lab introduced me to SAS, a computer programming language used for statistical analysis. It helped me establish a solid foundation to support my studies with quick steps. The fact that I could test hundreds of cases with just a few lines of code blew my mind because, before that, I had spent most of my work time only with digital drawing tools and theories from textbooks.
Meanwhile, I was looking for a job ahead of graduation, and I found an interesting job opening at Samsung as a Smart-City planner with a working knowledge of IT and urban engineering. It looked like the perfect opportunity for me, as I had just written some papers in the field of urban planning using computer language. After passing the document screening, undergoing a health check, having an interview with senior engineers, and finally, an interview with executives, I was hired and started a three-month training course with the company.
I cannot forget that course; it was one of the most interesting times in my life. While I was taking full-time classes, the company changed the plan of smart city building, and as a result, I had to choose a different department to work in. Whatever I learned during the official training period, I had to acquire a completely different skill set: Java. Time went by quickly as I learned new skills and tools that were entirely different from my previous skill set. During my time at Samsung, my best friend suggested that I come and live in Canada.
It wasn’t easy to live in a different country where I wasn’t born. I felt insecure about my English, so I knew I needed to make a bold move to survive here. What did I do? I applied for a job at Flight Centre, where I had to engage in English-speaking conversations every single day. I had to push myself to improve my English skills desperately and as quickly as possible. Fortunately, I received a job offer, and my plan worked. Despite enduring countless embarrassing moments due to my English, I became an essential employee at my workplace and eventually achieved the highest sales in my team. And then… the pandemic happened.
The pandemic gave me a chance to look back on my life and made me think about what I truly want to do for the rest of my life. I yearned to return to the days when I had a passion for web development and enjoyed learning new skill sets every day. My neighbor, who works as a developer, recommended Juno College to me. I now have the pleasure of appreciating the fact that I am taking steps toward my dream every day.
