I started in my first position in my new career as a software developer near the end of February. It has been three months since then, and I’m writing to process all these incredible, new experiences.

I’m going to just type out a bunch of bullet points because there’s no particular order or priority in my thoughts at the moment; it’s all still so new to me.

  • A codebase can look messy, unorganized, contain unusual/weird code, but all that matters is that it works and delivers value to its end-users.

I imagine there’s a limit to this, but I don’t know where that limit is or what it looks like, yet.

  • I did not expect how difficult it would be to be creative.

A big chunk of my time in learning to code/develop was spent on learning fixed, static syntax and how to use it alongside common patterns and “best practices”. So, when I was given practically free rein to implement a new feature in a small codebase, I was frozen with indecision. There were so many choices and paths I could take, that I was getting stuck on less significant details and losing focus on the big picture. I have to learn to just move forward - artists will outline, sketch, draft, erase, re-do, etc., and it’s fine for me to do the same.

  • I’m still in the honeymoon phase, but I love my job/the actual work I do.

It’s absolutely wild - I get to wake up and go to a job that I actually like. I am having fun with the work, and it engages me in the same way that my hobbies do. Every job I’ve had up until now has been about finding the thing(s) that I like within that position, and focusing on that to get me through the day. This is the first position where the actual work is what I am enjoying. I should have tried switching to software development way sooner in my life.

  • I am surrounded by an enormous number of skilled, smart, communicative people.

I have been in this situation before, of course, but the gap between my peers and I is so big, and there are so many of them. I definitely feel intimidated on some level, and that makes perfect sense - they all have years or decades of experience on me. However, I did not expect it to feel so comforting - it means that nearly every person I work with can help me. They all have advice and direction they can provide. I can ask and trust anyone and everyone. PS: I imagine this heavily affected by the company culture and hiring process being very on-point in finding compatible personalities.

  • This final point is a bit personal, but I have to bring it up because it shocks me on regular basis - the money/salary/compensation paired with work/life balance is absolutely mind-boggling.

I am a remote worker, so I get to stay in the comfort of my own home. There are days where I - literally - roll out of bed, do not put on pants, and just get to work. I can get up and do some chores, relax, and/or just sit and think nearly any time I want. Meanwhile, I get paid enough to pay rent and bills, save money into a retirement account, save money towards medical expenses, save money towards emergencies, save money towards a home, budget towards luxuries, AND help my family. It is life-changing.

Context: I am a first-generation Cambodian American. Son to a single mother. Middle child of five. My mother and her family managed to escape war-torn Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge in the 80s. My mother has had to work quite hard - an absolutely disgusting understatement - to survive. Still has to, actually: her father/my grandfather has dimentia, and she cares for him at home while working a full-time job as a home health aide (my younger brothers help care for him, too). My mother is past her retirement age, and may finally be able to get some rest. With the level of income I now have, I could pick up her life’s work and continue elevating our family and supporting them in this new country/society. She’ll get to see her efforts pay off, and her children flourish.

Yeah, I’m pretty happy as a software developer so far.