How I started into IT ? #24

My name is Djefferson Saintilus, and I'm now 21 years old. I started working in IT at the age of 12 when I was young. I began my journey in IT alongside my father, who works in IT communications. Sometimes he needed assistance with various tasks, so he taught me the basics, such as how to turn on a computer and familiarized me with software. He also introduced me to Microsoft Office packages, which he frequently used for his job. I learned a great deal about IT from my father, and during that time, we had numerous books at home. Whenever I had free time, I delved into those books to explore and learn new things. I was quite curious and allowed myself to absorb information on various topics. This mentality fostered my autodidactic approach to learning.

Among the books my father had, some covered the workings of the internet, email systems, and basics of computers. I explored these subjects to gain knowledge about how the internet and email systems functioned and where computers originated from. However, my father was often away from home, and even when he was there, he had limited time due to his work commitments. Consequently, I took the responsibility of advancing my IT knowledge upon myself.

We also had a Sony camera at home, which became my next technological interest. I learned how cameras work, how to take photos, and how to transfer the pictures from the camera to the computer. It was an exciting experience. Eventually, a neighborhood internet center opened up after a while.

An internet center called "BERMANO MULTI-SERVICES" opened during that time, where you could access a computer for a limited period, typically 1-3 hours depending on how much you paid. When your session expired, you had to pay again to start a new one. It's likely that I knew the administrator, Bermano C. We had conversations, and despite the age difference (he was around 25-30 years old), we discussed various topics. Knowledge knows no age, so we engaged in meaningful discussions. He mainly spoke because I had less knowledge in comparison. I spent a significant amount of time with him at the internet center, although I never actually purchased a computer session. Instead, I used that time to talk with him.

Through my interactions with Bermano, I gained extensive knowledge about internet-related technologies such as routers, RJ45 cables, ports, and more. I also learned a great deal about hardware and its functions with his help. He was incredibly supportive and aided me throughout my learning journey. However, after spending a considerable amount of time with him, some of his IT friends visited the center. He introduced me to them, and I had the opportunity to befriend one of them.

Firstly, before he introduced me to my future boyfriend (Feguentz A.), something interesting happened in my neighborhood. I fell in love with a girl, but here's the twist: she turned out to be his sister. I only discovered this connection when he and I became friends. However, I decided to let things unfold naturally. My friend, Feguentz, had an extensive understanding of how software and hardware work in IT. I learned a great deal from him, mastering skills such as installing antivirus software, downloading music, videos, and movies, and even repairing computer hardware and software. It was an incredible experience learning with him.

However, with every lesson, my affection for his sister grew stronger. I was so passionate about the knowledge Feguentz shared that I wanted to be more closely connected to him just to learn more. But at the same time, I had deep feelings for her, making it difficult for me to choose between love and knowledge. Ultimately, I made the decision to prioritize love and was ready to sacrifice everything for her. Consequently, I embarked on a self-guided journey in IT, becoming an autodidact. I searched for ways to communicate with her in secret (just innocent childhood love) and found motivation in IT. I realized that IT could provide us with numerous opportunities to connect. Therefore, I delved into learning about the internet, how signals transmit between phones, Wi-Fi technology, network concepts, and more. I found a way for us to communicate, although it wasn't frequent, but we cherished those moments.

So now, I had acquired new knowledge and continued to grow in both love and IT.

I began to share my knowledge with others and engage in more direct conversations with the guy from the internet center. Although our discussions were limited, it was a great experience. As my skills and knowledge continued to advance, I started meeting new people in the IT field, such as Wendy and Chouchou. These individuals taught me a great deal about IT support, including computer repair, troubleshooting, operating system installation, and post-installation tasks. Their assistance was invaluable. Initially, our interactions were positive as we got to know each other and shared knowledge. One possible reason for this was the age difference between us. I was just a 14-year-old boy, while they were in their early twenties. In fact, Wendy, one of them, started coming to my house occasionally to spend time with me during his free moments. Interestingly enough, he ended up falling in love with one of my sisters, and she became his girlfriend. As a result, he became more open to sharing everything with me, and I learned a great deal from him.

The other person, Chouchou, became a close friend. With his guidance, I learned how to burn an operating system onto a CD and how to create a bootable USB drive. Although my younger brother(I mean Wendy) had taught me some of these techniques, with Chouchou's help, I truly mastered them. So, what's next?

At the age of 14, armed with my extensive knowledge of IT, I made the bold decision to open my own business. It all began when my father purchased a desktop computer for me. I saw this as an opportunity to venture into the world of entrepreneurship. I started a small computer repair business, offering services such as operating system installations, including Windows XP, Vista, and 7. Additionally, I transformed my desktop into a video game center at home, allowing people to come and play games on weekends and holidays. This endeavor proved to be successful as it not only provided me with some extra income but also enabled me to expand my network and meet new people. Word spread quickly in my neighborhood about my little business, and even the intenet center guy became aware of it.

For a while, everything was going well. However, during this time, I unfortunately fell ill with an eye condition that prevented me from working for others. I began to suspect that my health issues were somehow related to my business. After careful consideration and guidance from my parents, I made the difficult decision to close down my business and focus on my health while continuing to learn about IT.

With the business behind me, I returned to my friends to share experiences and engage in discussions on various IT topics. Around the same time, my school decided to introduce an introductory IT course, covering the basics. It was an exciting new experience, as the school curriculum aligned with the knowledge I had already mastered.

To be continued...