Thinking about it now, recalling those first days is almost a pleasure. Starting as a Junior, I still remember the excitement of writing that first line of code. Of course, I must not forget how inexperienced I was back then, feeling like it was the end of the world at every mistake. But well, I believe everyone starts this way. This journey teaches not only technical knowledge but also patience, determination, and a constant desire to learn. Although sometimes this learning process can be quite challenging, like hitting a dead end where no matter what you do, you seem stuck…
In those early days, my biggest struggle was spending hours trying to solve a mistake. Sometimes I would read the entire code to find an error, yet I couldn’t solve it. Looking back now, I realize the solution was actually simple, but I had overlooked it. Meanwhile, Stack Overflow was practically my savior. The questions asked there, the answers provided… Honestly, it was one of the fastest ways to resolve an issue in my opinion.
Moreover, one of the most frequent phrases I heard when I was at the Junior level was: “You have a lot to learn, kid.” Yes, that was true. But sometimes, that phrase would motivate me, and other times, it could be a bit discouraging. Anyway, the most important thing was not to give up. Every mistake was a lesson for the next step. Were there times when my programs failed? Of course. Was there a moment I said to myself, “What is this, it’s terrible!”? Yes, there was.
Becoming a senior doesn’t just mean writing more code or solving more complex problems. To me, it means maturing as a software developer. That is, you develop technically, but also help those around you. You guide a junior when they get stuck, help them identify errors faster. This cooperation is very important, isn’t it? This way, you gain experience, and the overall performance of the team improves. Think about it, we’re all progressing by learning from each other.
Of course, one of the biggest factors in this transition process is finding the right mentors. I believe I was lucky; I encountered people who were both highly knowledgeable technically and patient. Their experiences guided me. I learned from them how to write more optimized code and how to detect errors more quickly. I can’t say how long it would have taken me to reach this level without them, but it would definitely have taken much longer.
Now I smile when I think about developing REST APIs with C# and using Dapper, recalling my naïveté in those early days. Back then, web services and API calls seemed like technologies from another planet. But over time, with practice and looking at sample codes, everything fell into place. Especially, Dapper’s performance has always impressed me. Its simplicity and speed make working with large data sets much easier. Integration with databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL is also quite smooth.
Meanwhile, technology is constantly changing and evolving. Technologies that were important yesterday may become outdated tomorrow. Therefore, continuous learning is essential. Remember the old Flash animations? Nowadays, hardly anyone uses them. I’ve always tried to stay open to new technologies in my career. Modern frontend frameworks like Vue.js also attracted my interest. Bridging frontend and backend, ensuring data flow—it’s a really enjoyable process.
Looking back, I realize that the most valuable lessons and toughest moments were when I struggled for hours or even days solving a problem. But when I finally solved that problem, the feeling of victory made everything worthwhile. Have there been times when my programs failed? Yes. But so what? I learned to do better next time. Also, I once spent a day trying to bypass TTnet’s filters with my own proxy, and I think I got quite frustrated that day 🙂
Ultimately, the journey from Junior to Senior isn’t a destination but an ongoing path. We learn new things every day, improve ourselves. The key is to enjoy this journey and set new goals at each step. It’s like mountain climbing. When you reach the summit, another one awaits you. But the climb itself, the landscapes, the challenges—and triumphs—are priceless.
This journey, I can also give some advice to those who want to advance in their careers like me. First, practice a lot. Write code, try things out, make mistakes, and learn from them. Second, join communities. Engage with people in forums, Discord servers. Third, never give up. When you struggle, take a step back and try again. Remember, every Senior was once a Junior.
As I write this, I recall a friend asking me recently, “How did you learn so quickly?” I replied, “There’s no other way but to sit down and code.” It wasn’t the most satisfying answer, but I think it’s the truth. Sometimes, sitting for hours writing code, other times just thinking… Finding this balance is important.
My own proxy program failed to bypass TTnet’s filters once, and I was quite upset that day 🙂
Additionally, always being open to learning, following new technologies is crucial. Recently, I’ve been closely following developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Living in Bursa helps me connect with local tech companies and initiatives. Perhaps one day, I’ll write more in-depth articles about these topics, who knows? Also, regarding such fields, Wikipedia’s artificial intelligence pages can be quite helpful.
In conclusion, the journey from Junior to Senior is truly everyone’s story. Everyone has their own struggles, successes, and learning processes. The important thing is to embrace this process and strive to become a better version of ourselves at each step. Isn’t it wonderful? That’s why I am passionate about coding and technology.
You know what they say, “Everyone has a story.” My story starts like this. The steps I took on the way from Junior to Senior, what I learned, and the experiences I gained… the journey continues.
Sometimes, I’m inspired by the time I spend with my wife and child. Family ties give me incredible motivation. When I get stuck coding, their faces come to mind, and I get back to my work with new enthusiasm. Even when we go on city tours in Bursa, new projects and ideas often form in my mind.
Of course, facing failures is inevitable in this journey. Have there been times when my programs failed? Yes. Did I say to myself, “What is this, it’s terrible!”? Yes, I did. But what can we do? Everyone starts like that. The important thing is not to give up.
Looking back now, I see that my excitement and determination from the first days brought me to this point. Of course, there’s still much to learn. Technology keeps progressing, and I try to keep up. Perhaps the most important thing is to enjoy this journey. Even if my own program didn’t work sometimes, I am now in better places because of my persistence. I used to spend hours solving errors; now, thanks to that experience, I catch them faster. I can even search faster on Google for example, by clicking Google’s performance-related searches.
Always staying open to learning, following new technologies is essential. I am recently following developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Living in Bursa helps me connect with local tech companies and initiatives. Maybe one day, I will write more about these fields, who knows? Also, Wikipedia’s artificial intelligence pages are quite helpful for deeper understanding.
In conclusion, the story of transitioning from Junior to Senior is everyone’s story. Everyone has their own hardships, successes, and learning journeys. The key is to embrace this process and aim to become a better version of ourselves at every step. I am passionate about coding and technology because of this journey.
You know what they say, “Everyone has a story.” Mine begins like this. The steps I took from Junior to Senior, what I learned, and the experiences I lived… this journey continues.