A few days ago, I was sitting in front of my computer much later than I planned. The room was quiet except for my keyboard and my occasional sigh when I couldn't solve the same problem for many hours. I was working on a small project. For an experienced developer, it would probably take only a few hours, but for me, I was still trying to understand why my code was not working as expected.
At one moment, I leaned back in my chair and asked myself a question:
"Did I choose the wrong time to follow my dream?"
It is not an easy question to ask yourself.
When I first became interested in programming, I wasn't thinking about money, remote work, or becoming successful. What interested me was the fact that people can create something from their imagination. A developer can sit in front of a computer and build something that helps another person somewhere else in the world. I always thought there was something beautiful about that.
I still remember the first time I wrote a program that actually worked. It was nothing special, and if I saw that code today, I would probably laugh. But at that moment, it felt like magic. For the first time, I wasn't only using technology—I was creating it.
That feeling is still with me today.
Over the years, I spent a lot more time learning than I expected. Sometimes I went to sleep thinking about a bug and woke up with an idea for the solution. Sometimes I forgot about time because I enjoyed building something so much. There is a special feeling when you finally solve a problem that seemed impossible before.
But this journey has not been easy.
Many times, I felt like I was standing in the same place while everyone else was moving forward. I would open LinkedIn or other social media and see people sharing their new jobs, promotions, and achievements while I was still trying to find my first real opportunity in the industry.
And then AI became impossible to ignore.
Suddenly, many people started asking if developers would still be needed in the future. Every week, there is another article or video talking about AI replacing jobs. For someone who is still trying to start a career in tech, it can feel very discouraging.
There were many nights when I asked myself if I spent years learning something that might change before I even have the chance to work in this field.
But every time I think about giving up, I remember that programming was never only about finding a job for me.
I simply enjoy building things.
I enjoy learning new technologies. I enjoy solving problems. I enjoy becoming a little better than I was yesterday.
AI may change many things, but it cannot replace curiosity. It cannot replace the feeling of solving a difficult problem after many hours. And it cannot replace the dreams that people have.
So, I decided to accept the uncertainty.
I don't know what this industry will look like in ten years. I don't know how many applications I will send before someone gives me a chance. I don't know how many times I will doubt myself before I finally feel that I belong here.
But I know one thing.
Tomorrow morning, I will sit in front of my computer again.
I will continue building projects. I will continue learning. I will continue trying, even on days when it feels difficult.
Because dreams do not always come when we expect them to.
And maybe that is okay.
Maybe one day I will look back at these years and realize that they were not the years when I was falling behind.
Maybe they were the years that taught me how to keep going.
If you have ever felt uncertain about your future in tech, I would really like to hear your story. Sometimes, knowing that we are not alone makes a big difference.
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