About

Hi there! I am Can, a self-taught developer with a passion for learning and self-improvement. I am a former Lieutenant and Helicopter Pilot who transitioned into tech after turning 30, making another dream come true.

From Military Police to Tech

My journey began with an eight-year traditional military education in Turkey, where I was trained to be an officer. This involved studying in a Military High School and later in a Military Academy. It was during these years that I developed key attributes such as discipline, teamwork, and resilience. The challenges I encountered helped me create a work ethic that helped me through my career.

Upon graduating from the Military Academy, I served in various capacities within the Military Police. My roles spanned a diverse range, from internships to serving as a Helicopter Pilot. This exposure to a wide array of responsibilities allowed me to significantly enhance my collaborative skills. It also broadened my horizons and enriched my experiences at many levels.

Shift in Career

After experiencing the drastic change in Turkey's path forward, it was time for me to make changes in my career and fly in a direction without turbulence. That's when I learned about freeCodeCamp in 2019. A free platform to learn how to code plus projects and certifications, too good to be true. But the learning didn't stop just there, I continued making projects while studying full-time; I was dedicated to getting my foot into the door as a developer. There were days I spent a full day studying, building, and debugging.

In 2021, I moved to Finland. I had (almost) 2 years of non-professional coding experience under my belt and it was time. Before moving to Finland, I made some connections and met with people whom I am grateful to know about; Miguel Coquet, Miguel Marques, and Eduardo Vedes. Those are the kinds of people who create a new perspective in your life, and I am thankful to them.

Then in Finland, I started looking for jobs. I knew I didn't have work experience but I had many extensive projects in my portfolio and above all; the ambition to make my dream come true. After a few interviews, I found a consulting gig. The client was a major company in the staffing industry and the gig was for a senior position but I secured it.

Since then, I am working as a Software Developer. And every day before I start working, I remind myself where I am and feel grateful for how far I have come.

Life Beyond Work

Living in Finland teaches many things, and a great work-life balance is one of them. It is partly the career change and kids as well but I learned how to appreciate my time outside work here better than ever.

When I am not working, I mostly spend time with my family and having walks. I have a routine of walking around the island I live in and taking pictures. Feels like a loop but that's one of the best routines I developed which I enjoy each time. After all, boring is good for daily life.

Apart from those, I put myself goals (quarterly, semi-annually, etc) to upskill myself. These goals mainly are the result of my past, always having the itch to improve and not feeling quite right when I don't learn anything new.

Thanks

In time, we will get to know each other better. I will try to write blog posts regularly (famous last words) and keep this active.

If you have any questions or get to know me better, please feel free to DM me on Twitter 👇