Welcome to my very first blog post on Dev.to! 😊
This is a personal attempt to share something I never really thought I’d do — documenting my journey as someone who’s always been a bit lowkey, but has been through a lot, quietly building a future in tech.
🌱 Where It All Started
My story begins with me just staring at a monitor one quiet day, reflecting on life — wondering if I had any real talent or something worth pursuing.
That screen made me ask:
"How are these websites even made?"
That question led me to discover web development. I started diving into tutorials, guides, YouTube videos — anything I could find. And during the pandemic, I was lucky enough to land a spot in a coding bootcamp. That was the beginning.
🐢 Slow Progress, But Never Gave Up
I wasn’t able to switch careers immediately. Life got in the way — personal reasons, burnout, detours. But I didn’t give up.
Night after night, while the world slept (and the crickets chirped lol), I sat in front of my computer, self-learning and upskilling. Fighting sleep. Trying to grow.
🎨 Exploring More Skills: UI/UX Journey
Then came another opportunity — this time, a scholarship from a Globe x Google PH + Coursera partnership (around 2022/2023).
I chose the UI/UX Design course, which took me around 6 months to complete. Through it, I created projects, unlocked new interests, and realized I enjoyed building and designing. It opened up a new possibility for me — to become a developer with a design eye.
⏳ 2024: A Year of Twist & Growth
The start of 2024 brought unexpected changes. I was unemployed for nearly 6 months. It wasn’t easy — I was taking a mental break from everything after almost 5 years of doing great and having best experience in a non-tech job.
But maybe it was all part of the plan. Because not long after, I got hired by a company that offers tech training/bootcamp. Finally, I was stepping into the tech industry officially! Thank you for my first tech company for giving me this great opportunity to break into tech industry.
🤖 So, What About AI?
In the middle of all this, AI started to creep into my world — at work, on my feed, through blog posts, and YouTube. Like most of us, I started using AI tools for personal tasks, for feedback, to brainstorm ideas.
My curiosity grew. I wanted to understand it deeper.
I began exploring. Reading. Watching. Learning.
Then I joined a Discord server — Data Engineering Pilipinas. And that’s when I saw a post from Sir Allan Tan of Predictive Systems Inc., offering limited scholarship slots for an AI/LLM Engineering Bootcamp.
💭 Doubts. Prayers. Then Hope.
When I saw the opportunity, I hesitated.
Can I really do this? Am I ready?
But close friends encouraged me: “Just try. If it’s meant for you, it will be yours.”
So, I applied. Wrote a draft. Rewrote it multiple times. Submitted it. Prayed. And waited.
And I got in.
🎉 I was selected as one of the scholars! (Thank you for people behind this opportunity given to me! Just want to flex Predictive Systems, Inc. or our PSAI Academy lead by our great AI trainer, Mr. Allan Tan.
🎓 What This Means to Me
Being accepted into the AI/LLM Engineering Bootcamp (First Cohort) by PSAI Academy is one of the biggest opportunities I’ve ever received.
📎 (More info about the bootcamp: https://www.predictivesystems.ai/2025/03/04/ai-engineering-bootcamp/)
It’s still surreal.
And that’s why I’m writing this.
This post marks the beginning of my #PSAIAcademy Blog Series — where I’ll share my learnings, experiences, challenges, and insights as I go through this journey to (hopefully!) becoming an AI Engineer.
❤️ Final Words (For Now)
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
This is just the beginning. I know it won’t be easy, but with effort, curiosity, and dedication — I believe nothing is impossible.
If you’re also on a similar journey or just starting out — feel free to connect or say hi!
PS: I’ll do my very best to keep updating and documenting this journey — even though my daily schedule’s a bit tight. 😅 Thanks for understanding, and let’s learn together!
All glory to God for opening doors I never imagined. This journey is possible only by God’s grace.
Top comments (0)