From 13-Year-Old Coder to Tech Professional at 18: My Unconventional Journey

Leon Korkh — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 20:23:29 +0000

My journey into the world of programming started when I was just 13 years old. My first challenge was HTML. The idea of creating web pages from scratch both intrigued and daunted me. Armed with online tutorials and a heap of determination, I began piecing together my website. The sense of accomplishment I felt when I saw my first "Hello World" webpage displayed was indescribable. As I stared at the screen in awe, little did I know that this moment would mark the beginning of an incredible adventure.

As the years passed, my passion for coding only grew stronger. By the time I turned 16, I had progressed to more complex languages, and Java became my new fascination. The world of object-oriented programming opened up before me like a vast playground, full of endless possibilities. I spent countless hours experimenting, making mistakes, and, most importantly, learning from them. I could code for hours on end without even realizing how swiftly time passed.

Now, here's where the story takes an unexpected twist. As I approached the age of 18, I realized that I wanted to turn my passion for programming into a career, but I hadn't pursued a formal degree. The conventional path seemed closed to me, but I was determined to find my way.

I began building a portfolio of projects that showcased my skills and creativity. I contributed to open-source projects, collaborated with fellow developers, and built a network in the tech community. I also started attending coding meetups and conferences, where I met professionals in the field.

One day, at a local tech event, I struck up a conversation with a software development manager from a well-known tech company. We talked about my journey, my projects, and my passion for coding. Impressed by my dedication and skills, they asked for my resume. Although nothing immediately came of it, this encounter ignited a newfound belief in the possibility of pursuing my dream career. It motivated me to start applying to more places, ultimately leading to a full-time job. At the age of 18, I found myself working in the industry I had dreamed of, all without a traditional degree.

It's now clear to me that no dream is too wild, and taking unique paths can lead to awesome adventures! Thank you for reading this far!

Less is More: Why I Switched to a Simpler Task Management App and How It Improved My Productivity

Leon Korkh — Thu, 04 May 2023 18:02:35 +0000

As a developer who's always juggling multiple side projects, I've tried out countless task management apps over the years. From Trello to Asana to Todoist, I've experimented with them all, looking for the perfect tool to keep me organized and on top of my workload. But after years of trial and error, I've come to the conclusion that less is more when it comes to task management apps.

When I first started out, I was drawn to apps that had a seemingly endless list of features. I thought the more options I had, the better I'd be able to customize my workflow to fit my needs. But what I found was that all those features quickly became overwhelming and made it more difficult to use the app effectively. I spent more time trying to navigate through the various options than actually getting work done.

That's when I started looking for simpler task management apps. I wanted something easy to use and didn't have a lot of bells and whistles. The features that I find myself using most of the time are:

Setting reminders
Assigning priorities
Using colors to categorize
Break down larger tasks into smaller
Mark off completed subtasks to track progress and stay motivated

After trying a few different options, I came across Planndu, an app for Android that I think is the best on the market.
What I love about Planndu is its simplicity. It has just the right amount of features to keep me organized without overwhelming me.

One of the features I appreciate the most is the ability to create recurring tasks. This is especially helpful for my side projects that require regular updates or maintenance. I can set a task to repeat daily, weekly, or monthly and not worry about forgetting to do it.

Long story short, I've found that keeping my task management app simple and straightforward has made it much easier for me to stay organized and productive.

DEV Community: Leon Korkh

From 13-Year-Old Coder to Tech Professional at 18: My Unconventional Journey

Less is More: Why I Switched to a Simpler Task Management App and How It Improved My Productivity