The Evolution of a Career
They say that hindsight is 20/20. And it is true! If I look at the choices I made in high school, it is now apparent that I was destined for a career in Web Development. While picking my free electives, I exhausted all of the computer courses. AutoCad, Animation and Robotics. There were no "internet" courses as usage was not publicly adopted yet. I didn't even have an email address. But, I was setting the groundwork for a lifetime of "work" that feels more like "play".
When I first went to college, I was majoring in BioMedical Engineering. Like many students, as I discovered more about myself, my interests became more apparent and stronger. I then switched into a double major in Computer Science and Psychology hoping to create ergonomic/user-friendly technology devices.
In my free time, I started building websites using free web-based programs. I had a couple accounts where I challenged my design skills. And all of the sudden a light bulb went off; I should do this for a living. I enrolled in a graphic design program and faced a brick wall in a required drawing class. I am NOT an artist. I will never be an artist. However, I am creative and love to create. And with my engineering background, Web Development became the next path on my journey.
Finally, I found the career for me. I took a programming course that focused on web technologies and was smitten. As Confucius said, "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life".
It has been a little while since I chose web development as my life's passion. It amazes me how vast this field really is. There are so many directions I can go and areas to specialize in. At the moment, I am trying to learn a little about everything before I strive for expertise status in one particular area. However, I foresee me seeking to be a php guru specializing in customizing open source CMS's.
I did dabble in owning my own website business, but soon learned that the team environment is worth its weight in gold. While looking for an internship, I landed a fabulous job. My coworkers have provided me with soo much knowledge about best practices and new technologies. And working for a company has allowed me to contribute to large-scale projects that as one-person show I would otherwise not have the opportunity.
Regardless where this journey takes me, I know I have picked the right one. Everyday presents challenges that I eagerly tackle.
