How I’ve decided to be a developer

Hello, my name is Alex Lukianov. I am a seaman from Ukraine.

Sounds weird? Maybe.

Yes i am a certified seaman, worked on the vessels as an OS (Ordinary Seaman), and had perspectives to become an Officer and earn a buckets of money and live my life easilly. What’s the catch?

Since i was a child i’ve always been interested in a computer technologies, programming, development and all this stuff. I’ve tried to build my own sites when i was 10. And also i’ve tried to make my own games when i was 12. Thanks to God you can’t see my creations, because they’re too bad and have lost somewhere.

After the school i had to choose who i want to be in future. But i was a child and i surely didn’t know exactly who i want to be. Yes, i wanted to be a programmer, but i’ve always heard that programmers earn very little money, and they’re not required a lot. That was 00’s in Ukraine, so it was a more-less truth.

And i’ve chosen to be a seaman, like my father. Many people in my family are good and professional sailors, and i am a part of a something like a marine dynasty.

I’ve been thinking, that it will be good, because in our country was opinion, that you have two ways in your life: to be a seaman and live like normal people, or work somewhere else, and live poorly.

Yes, it was a myth in my head.

First, i’ve studied in maritime technicum, i didn’t like it, but i think, that’s normal, that when i will work at sea it will be great. After technikum i went to Maritime Academy in Poland, there was much better, and after 6 years of study i’ve at least became a seaman, and i got the oportunity to work at sea.

And there problems begins.

At first you need to pay a lot of money to get all documents, required for work, you need to graduate from academy and receive a certificate, later you need to go to work, and then you can see, do you like this job or not.

After my first contract, i’ve felt bad, because this word is a very specific, and not for evryone. You’re always far from home, mostly without internet and if you have relationship or family it’s to hard to cope with it.

After that i’ve thinking: “Maybe it isn’t too bad, maybe i need use to it, and after a few contracts i can manage it”.

But after next and next contracts i’ve completly knew: “I will not work here all of my life”. And i’ve tried to learn something new, because i had a thoughts, that i can’t do anything anymore. But my attempts to learn something new was not more than hobbies. I didn’t know what to do in my life, instead of seamanship. And sometimes i thought that it’s too late to change something (i was 25, LoL).

I had a future in this job, i was working good, and i had perspectives to became an Officer, and earn a very good money. Yes, this job has pros too besides of cons. But when i was on ship i alwas had a feel, that it’s not my life, i am not supposed to be here.

There’s always been an opinion, that you don’t need to love your job, money is a main part, and you need to tolerate it, even if you don’t like it and feel uncomfortable.

But i’ve seen other people, friends, who work in IT sphere, and they’re earning enough money to live normal life, and they’re doing something interesting, that i’ve always wanted to do. They’re very good people, with hobbies, interests like i had, and i could easily communicate with them and reach an understanding, compared to colleagues at sea.

Yes, all jobs have pain, and everything you do brings a current amount of pain. You will never have a work, where you’ll not face with problems. Escaping from problems is a not a good thing.

But, you need to find a pain, that you love and that you can accept. A pain, that will pushing you forward and build yourself, instead of destroy.

And then, in Ukraine begins a war. Real war, awful war. After that i’ve lern many new things.

You have only one life, which can finish at any time.

At first, i couldn’t work as a seaman, because there’s no way out from my country, beacuse of war. And i understood, that NOW is time to act.

If i won’t do this now, i won’t do this never. Instead of depressing and doing nothing during this hard times. I’ve decided to become a frontend developer, when i’ve found out, that i like it. I’ve built a roadmap, found a lot of books, and courses and started learning. Before i was always dropped all courses, that i’ve tried to learn, due to loss of interest. But now i feel, that i found myself.

I’m studying for 2 months now, regularly, every day. And here i will share my sucesses, my way, my projects and my own life building. Maybe, if you have same problems, it will help you.

That’s the story, how i left my good-payed and perspective job for another one, that i like, love and accept. Yes, there will be a lot of problems, and i’m ready to it, because all you need is a wish, confidence and listening to your heart. You need to know, that living your own life, which you choose is always better.

That will be a long road. Long road to development.