From Shepherding to Software Development: A Shepherd’s Love for Knowledge

While some enjoy the luxuries that life offers throughout their lives, others shape their lives by going through challenging conditions. Even though there are clear differences between these two groups, one thing is the same: both can succeed. However, it is necessary to know and accept that life is not fair. I am one of those who strive to overcome the challenges presented by the family I was born into and the place I live in. In this article, I will explain how I managed to stay hopeful and improve myself while overcoming these challenges.

My childhood provided me with the opportunity to get acquainted with the difficulties of life early on. At the age of six, I was given the task of taking our animals to graze in the mountains. I would take our flock of goats and sheep to the mountains before sunrise every morning, and go out to graze again when the weather cooled a bit in the afternoon. This challenging shepherding experience brought out an innate determination within me.

I grew up and lived with limited resources. I didn’t have internet at home or a large study area. However, this situation never stopped my desire to learn or my curiosity. My interest in computers and technology, a passion that my family sometimes didn’t understand, caused me difficulties among other responsibilities I had to balance with my school life.

However, despite all the challenges of life, my passion for technology and knowledge dragged me forward. In high school, I studied in the computer technical department. But I didn’t have a computer and never had internet access. Despite this, I wanted to learn computer software and programming. My family and people around me didn’t understand this, and they thought I was just aimlessly hanging out in front of a computer while I was learning programming languages like Visual Basic, Python, and C#.

One day, I learned about a free Linux coding camp. But my economic limitations prevented me from taking advantage of this opportunity. Nevertheless, I continued to struggle to improve myself. My goal of being admitted to university seemed like an almost unreachable target, but in the end, I was able to achieve this goal. After university, I started learning English, something I once thought was very difficult.

When I see successful people like Emma Bostian, I think their lives have been easier. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to fail. True, maybe Emma’s life was easier, maybe I worked harder than her. However, this situation is not an obstacle to writing my own success story.

In conclusion, the place you were born and your family are certainly significant factors affecting your life. However, this is not an excuse for you to whine. It is important to be aware of inequalities and to accept them. But, not using the realities of life as an excuse, and making an effort to overcome them, is equally important. Success is not limited to where you were born, it is limited by your ability to overcome the challenges you encounter on this journey.