From Novice to Expert : The path of a digital dreamer 

Stories can halt moments, rewind to nostalgia, and reroute us toward novel horizons. They are like tapestries rich with threads of experience—woven from triumphs and peaks, intertwined with crossroads. This is the story of Lahiru, whose determination during his school days to thrive in the tech world has become a reality, shaping the life of a software engineer he once dreamed of. 

Where it all began 

Lahiru who grew up in the dynamic Monaragala district with its rolling hills and vibrant landscapes envisioned a future of innovation and excellence in the tech world. Have you ever felt that rush of excitement when something new grabs your attention and feels like it could lead you to success? For Lahiru, it was a Pentium 4 running Windows XP, gifted to him by his father in 2011 which welcomed him into the world of computing. From the very moment he laid eyes on a computer, a glimmer of enthusiasm unfolded before him. He was ecstatic and wondrous to walk through the realm of experimentation to see what the future held for him. As his fingertips touched the keyboard each click of the mouse and its beeping sound resonated in his young mind, sparking questions, “How did every action create a response? What else can it do? …” 

He studied at MO/Bandarabayake National School where dreams took flight and aspirations found opportunities. Just as a sculptor shapes clay into form, his school moulded him, sculpting his passions with knowledge. Forged to nurture this newfound passion, Lahiru chose Information Technology as a subject for his Ordinary Level examination. Learning within the confines of a classroom did not satisfy this tech-savvy guy. He craved to bridge the gap between theory and practice, bringing what he learned into real-world scenarios. As he journeyed through the school he was elected as the President of the IT club. He was more than just a tech guru; he became a mentor for fellow students, guiding newcomers as they navigated the enigma of digital learning. With his rooted visions, Lahiru chose Mathematics for his Advanced Level Examination, believing it to be a seminal step toward his dream of entering engineering college. 

Forging the passion for technology 

Lahiru’s journey into technology was fuelled by his passion for self-learning. Even before starting his higher studies, he commenced his self-explorations to learn and meet the latest intricacies in the field. He expanded his knowledge about strings and their frameworks by spending late night experiments and hustling with codes. As he entered Greenwich University, Lahiru found himself in an environment that encouraged lifelong learning and taught the art of improvisation. It made learning a holistic experience. Homework assignments were like carrying opportunities to learn and a catalyst to grapple with the on-ground scenarios.  

It was here that he honed his skills in Java, Java Swing, C#, and Visual Studio, laying the foundation for a career as a backend software engineer. At a time when AI resources were not abundant, he learned all these intricate concepts by delving into documentation. Beyond the technical skills, the university prepared him for the competitive job market. They paved a pathway to create the professional journey that everyone deserves. The university’s mock interview sessions were formidable. They were like a rehearsal, allowing one to step into the spotlight and refine their performance before the curtain rises. Lahiru always has a grateful spot for his university for giving him wings to fly high and groom himself into a backend software engineer. He turned the final chapter of his academic journey with countless experiences, hands-on knowledge and invaluable practice to step into the professional arena. 

Stepping into the job market 

Lahiru secured a position as an associate software engineer from his very first job interview, joining a talented team of a senior software developer and enthusiastic interns. Lahiru transformed the workspace into a lively workshop, conducting engaging KT sessions on Eclipse IDE, IntelliJ, and Java EE for interns. He shared his hands-on expertise, guiding them through the intricacies of testing frameworks and unravelling the use of application testing using tools like JMeter. The skills he gathered from university became lifesavers at work. Here he got the chance to turn his knowledge into action and expand the horizon. When the management of the company asked all the employees to leave the company due to a lack of ongoing projects his dilemma was “What now?”.  

Yet, his first job in the professional realm, just after donning his graduation cap, became a profound teacher. He saw this setback as a setup for something better. 

Challenges and hard lessons 

Lahiru was so excited and hopeful for his new job, but it turned out to be short-lived and a harsh lesson in professional challenges. They promised him a project team, but he was left to manage massive tasks like building a ticket booking system on his own. Consequently, he had to work on weekends too. When the paycheck came, it was only half of what he was owed. These issues overshadowed his enthusiasm for work and mounted his pressure. Despite the mounting stress, Lahiru held onto one thing: his determination to uphold his work ethic. Quitting might have been easier, but leaving his resume with a glaring gap felt like giving up on everything he worked so hard for. Yet as the weeks turned into months Lahiru slowly discovered that this is a job scam. He found himself questioning “This isn’t what I signed up for…. How did I not see this coming? “ 

Finally, he decided to resign and envisioned working in a company that has a friendly working environment with a collaborating team where every minute achievement will be celebrated. 

The dawn of a new chapter  

Lahiru’s professional journey took a watershed turn when he joined the Drifting Desk. He came across the job vacancy at Drifting Desk for the position of backend software engineer at LinkedIn. He still recalls this interview and how he aced the interview with his clear-cut answers, impressing the CTO, Pradeep Kumar. His first assignment was to design a simple message delivery system using Microservice architecture, which he completed successfully and stepped into the position. Securing his position at the company was a professional coup and a testament to his patience and unwavering commitment.  

As he settled into his new role, Lahiru unlocked the gateway to the realm of novel assets to learn. He was new to deployment and microservice architecture, but he discovered a whole new level of skills when he mastered these concepts. Simultaneously, he dove headfirst into understanding technologies like Solar, Kafka, and JMeter. With hands-on experience in Java EE, he was excited to step outside his comfort zone and try something new. Most importantly, Lahiru is happy that he got the chance to work with a collaborative team who is always ready for a hearty helping of insight. 

Initially, Lahiru had three tasks to complete. When he could not attain the expected outcome in the first task, he did not let the doubts overcome his potential. With the support of his colleague Amith, he was able to self-learn and nail the remaining tasks with enthusiasm. As a full-stack engineer, he felt confident in his abilities and was eager to take on more challenges. 

While working with clients from Germany and Australia, Lahiru had the opportunity to improve his English-speaking skills. He utilised AI methods and language apps to improve his communication and performed well in meetings. He also learned to adapt to cultural differences, becoming more aware and sensitive to the needs of his global clients. During daily stand-up meetings, Lahiru earned the nicknames “Bug Hunter” and “JMeter guy” from his colleagues, including Pradeep and Casten. His colleague Sukanta stated that Lahiru was their go-to person for fixing errors, and the team gladly accepted the nickname. As Lahiru continued to grow and learn, he became an integral part of the Drifting Desk team, and his confidence in his abilities continued to soar.  

This was Lahiru’s dream: to work in a friendly workplace, learn novel things he did not acknowledge before and especially a supportive team. Undoubtedly, joining Drifting Desk feels like a dream come true for him. 

The Path Forward 

In a world where stagnation often feels like a safe choice, Lahiru embodies the essence of continuous learning and personal growth. Doesn’t it remind us that the true spirit lies in mastering the unknown and embracing new challenges? He garnered countless triumphs, failures even in the initial days of his career shaping him to face the uncertain paths in unforeseen future. From a curious boy with a Pentium 4 to a full stack backend software engineer, Lahiru came a long way surpassing hurdles and adding experiences to his professional career. Now he aims to crown the pinnacle of excellence, striving to blossom into a well-rounded Senior Software Engineer. Lahiru’s message to anyone who wants to chase their dreams  is to : reflect on our aspirations and embrace the beautiful complexities of our own journeys, forever staying inspired to keep learning and growing…. 

Lahiru’s adventure continues, and so does the promise of limitless possibilities to conquer the tech world.