I’m a full-stack developer from Colombia but currently reside in Malta and I’ve been a programmer for 12 years. In 2011, I started working as a full-stack developer after playing with embedded systems for a couple of years. The fast pace and the ever-changing ecosystem of web development caught my attention immediately. Releasing changes to a gazillion of users a few times every week was not what I had pictured myself doing when I decided to study Mechatronics Engineering and Physics, but now I’m in love with it and couldn’t imagine myself doing something else.
I was already a fan of watching the application of something I programmed and I gave birth. Then, after my first years developing for the web, I understood the meaning of a well-known quote: "This is the closest you can get to -creating something from nothing-". The fact that you can reach so many people in a short period, and offer solutions to problems in several different fields, along with the ability to measure those solutions' impact, are just three of the many reasons that pushed me to become a web developer. My passion for creating played a role. I've always loved turning ideas into working devices. I still play around with electronics occasionally; not to mention how much I enjoy the good old woodworking.
One of the hardest challenges I’ve faced lately is mentoring junior developers. I remember struggling with scoping the explanation of complex concepts in a way that was accessible to them. For instance, I once found myself explaining a technical topic to a junior developer, only to realize that this topic relied on a few more concepts. Trying to cover them all simultaneously made my explanation confusing and overwhelming for my fellow developers. To overcome this challenge, I started to adapt my communication style by breaking down complex concepts into smaller, more digestible pieces, and especially by identifying where to stop introducing new concepts in the same programming session. I also began paying more attention to how the junior developers responded to my explanations and adjusted my approach when necessary. That is something I’m still working on. This experience has been incredibly enriching for me, as it has reinforced many of the concepts that I learned early in my career. Additionally, it has taught me the value of effective communication and the importance of tailoring my teaching style to different learning styles. Overall, I have found that mentoring junior developers has been a great learning opportunity, and has helped me to grow both as a developer and as a mentor.
I learned about Proxify in late 2022 while searching on the web for new job opportunities. And I've worked full-time for a Swedish company since early 2023. The company is building a mobile application for training and communication on the go. I love my job because of the user-friendly, reliable and secure way it addresses some of the needs and pain points regarding remote employees' training, product training for resellers, and partnerships. It solves real problems! So we, as a team, are now focusing on accelerating the pace at which we can add new features, both through optimization and automation, while also having scalability and sustainability in mind.
I’ve been immensely lucky to work 100% remotely for the last five years. Now I can’t stress enough about how much time I’ve got to improve my work. Instead of commuting, I’m reading docs, making PoCs for new ideas, polishing my code, and just getting proper rest for my brain to handle it all better. Even before the pandemic, I was already confident that this working style was the way to go for most of the industries, if not all, moving forward. But there was a point when these benefits stopped being that and became requirements for me as a professional. So, I value how Proxify helped me connect with a company that shares good work culture.
To me, it's clear how much I value sharing experiences and knowledge with people to create continuity in the industry and keep re-evaluating best practices, bringing technology closer to other fields. It also opens doors to more individuals struggling to find jobs in their current professions. The industry keeps evolving, tools keep improving, and the pace accelerates. So, that's where I see myself in the near future: still learning every day and sharing that with the ones I can reach. Proxify's support will be crucial in keeping in touch with the changing industry trends and emerging technologies, but most importantly, connecting with people.
Talking about new developers and given the amount of them, I’ve felt their concern about AI and a possibly overcrowded market. My advice is to consider the opportunities. AI is here to stay but as a powerful tool. It will change what and how we focus on it. We shouldn’t be afraid of it but learn how to use it to our advantage. Whenever you think junior developers saturate the market, think of them as people you can connect with to keep learning, creating, and having fun sharing work. Don’t forget that we now have more free and valid online sources than ever before, thanks to junior developers as well.