A Thursday in September

 

While I was still in high school, I developed a strong interest in Computer Science Engineering.

Now, let me be honest—I had absolutely no idea what it actually involved. 😂

All I knew was that something about technology fascinated me, and I wanted to learn more.

After my final exams, I began searching for what I considered the "perfect place" to continue my studies. In my country, not every institution offering technology-related programs is accredited, so I wanted to make sure I was making the right choice.

I visited several schools, hoping one of them would immediately feel right.

None did.

Still determined to understand this world of technology, I enrolled in a bootcamp.

The funny part?

I didn't even own a computer. 😂

Despite that small inconvenience, I genuinely enjoyed my time there. I met amazing people, some of whom remain good friends today. The environment was inspiring, and for the first time, I felt like I was getting closer to something I truly loved.

Just when I thought I had found my path, another voice entered the conversation—my parents'.

They strongly encouraged me to sit for medical entrance examinations.

Leaving my training halfway was difficult. To be completely honest, I did it mainly out of respect for them. So, I put my interests aside and focused on preparing for the exams.

Then came a day that would unknowingly change everything.

One afternoon, a friend invited me to attend an event called by TiC SAP. I still remember it clearly—it was a Thursday in September 2023.

That day, I sat among the audience and watched former classmates and friends confidently stand on stage, speaking fluently and presenting their ideas.

I was mesmerized.

There they were, doing things I could only imagine myself doing.

As I watched them, a thought quietly settled in my mind:

"One day, I want to be like them."

I left that event inspired, but life continued, and soon the medical entrance exam results were released.

I will not lie—I was hurt.

I had invested a lot of effort into preparing for those exams, and seeing my name absent from the list was painful.

At the same time, there was an unexpected sense of peace.

Before taking the exam, I had told my mother:

"If I take this exam, whatever the outcome is, it will be God's doing."

Looking back, I believe that moment was the beginning of a redirection rather than a rejection.

A few days later, instead of sitting in disappointment, my mind drifted back to the event I had attended months earlier.

I started making calls.

I asked questions.

I searched for information.

And eventually, I discovered that they had a training program.

That decision—to reach out and ask—was the first major decision I made entirely on my own.

I arranged a meeting with the manager.

We talked.

Everything was set.

All that remained was for me to begin.

On the 23rd of November, 2023, I officially started my training in Web Development.

Believe it or not, I could barely type fast. 😂

But day after day, week after week, and month after month, things slowly began to change.

The environment challenged me.

The people inspired me.

My confidence grew.

The gaps in my knowledge gradually disappeared.

For the first time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

What I thought would be a single gap year eventually became two years of learning, growth, and transformation.

And honestly?

I would not change a thing.

People often say, "A closed mouth is a closed destiny."

For a long time, I never fully understood what that meant.

Today, I do.

Because what if I had never attended that event?

What if I had stayed home that day?

What if I had never made those phone calls?

What if I had been too afraid to ask questions?

I honestly do not know what story I would be telling today.

What I do know is that one conversation, one event, and one decision to speak up completely changed the direction of my journey.

And in the end, I found exactly what I had been searching for all along.

I found the right place.