From an early age, I was captivated by computers, leading me to study civil engineering for its math focus. However, the repetitive nature of AutoCAD in Belgium left me unfulfilled until a colleague introduced me to Lisp, igniting my passion for coding. Realizing civil engineering wasn't my true calling, I pursued a programming bootcamp in Java and landed a Junior Java Developer role. Motherhood threatened my career progress, but JetBrains Academy's free access was a game-changer, allowing me to balance learning and parenting through their structured, interactive platform. JetBrains Academy proved that anyone can code with determination, and now I'm more persistent and motivated than ever to continue my tech journey.