A Passion for Digital Worlds
I’ve been a gamer for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was young, I spent a lot of time playing video games, and at some point, I started getting curious about how they actually worked. One thing that really fascinated me was how some games experimented with real-time mechanics—where if an hour passed in real life, something also changed in the game. That kind of stuff got me intrigued about computers and digital systems in general.
Funny enough, I actually started learning English through Spongebob. During the day, I’d watch it in Dutch, but at night, I’d switch to the English version. Slowly, I started picking up words here and there, and that made gaming a lot easier since most games were in English. That curiosity about how things worked digitally just kept growing, and eventually, I knew I wanted to do something in tech. I ended up diving into web development, where I could explore both how things function in the background with data and how they affect users on the frontend.
Building My Foundation in Interactive Media Design
Even though I was really into tech, I didn’t have much opportunity to explore it growing up. I was basically a complete newbie when it came to anything programming-related—I could barely open Word, and that was about it. That’s why I decided to study Interactive Media Design at Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam. I did the accelerated course, finishing it in three years instead of four.
I figured MBO would be a good place to start, even though some of the general subjects were pretty easy for me. The programming side of things, though, was completely new, so I knew I had a lot to learn. I quickly realized that web development wasn’t just about writing code—it was also about how people interact with websites and apps. The psychology behind UI/UX really interested me, like how placing a button in a certain spot could get more clicks. That mix of logic, problem-solving, and design was exactly what I wanted to focus on.
Joining Pionect and My Love for Vue
As a developer, I get sent a lot of job offers from recruiters, but Pionect immediately stood out to me. First off, it’s based in Rotterdam, which made it a really attractive option. But what really sold me was that they work with Vue.js, which is a framework I absolutely love.
Before that, I had worked a bit with Angular, but Vue just makes more sense to me. It’s more user-friendly, and the way everything is structured feels way more natural as a frontend developer. React is great too, but Vue’s composition is just easier to work with. So when Pionect said yes to my application, I didn’t even have to think twice—I said yes right back.
One of the best things about working at Pionect is my colleagues. I can always rely on my team, and I never hesitate to ask questions. The environment here is open, safe, and welcoming, which makes a huge difference in how enjoyable work is. Another thing I really appreciate is the time freedom. If I need to step away for five minutes to take a breather, I can just do that without anyone looking at me funny. There’s a lot of trust here that the work will get done, and that freedom lets me be more productive in my own way.
Tackling Big Projects
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced at Pionect is working on large projects with a lot of legacy code. Some of these projects have years of history, which means I often find myself diving into code where I have no idea where things come from or why something was written a certain way. It can be overwhelming at times, but I actually enjoy figuring things out. It’s a lot of detective work—reading into the structure, asking the right questions, and making sure any changes I make don’t break something else.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that communication is key in this job. You can be the best programmer in the world, but if you don’t ask the right questions or explain things clearly, you’re not going to get very far. Being analytical also helps because it means you can ask more specific questions and get better answers, instead of wasting someone’s time with something too broad.
Looking back, I’m really happy I got to learn frameworks like Vue. That was a massive struggle for me in the past because my school barely covered JavaScript, which is honestly one of the most important programming languages. I had a tough time stepping into it, but my previous job gave me the opportunity to learn, and now I feel like I’ve really found my place.
For me, software development is all about making things that actually matter. I want to create applications that make a real difference in people’s lives. Think about how essential Google Maps is now—everyone uses it to get from A to B. That’s the kind of impact I want my work to have. If I can solve a problem and make something easier for people, that’s what makes me feel proud of what I do.
Family, Hobbies & Interests
A big part of my life revolves around taking care of my mom. She has a long list of health issues, and I’m her official caretaker. Because of that, I spend a lot of time at home, and traveling isn’t really an option for me. It’s tough sometimes, but it has also deepened our bond in a way that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
My mom and I get along really well—we have the same sense of humor, we both game, and we’ve been watching the same shows together since I was a kid. She’s not just my mom; she’s also one of my best friends. I also have an older brother who’s eight years ahead of me. We share a lot of the same interests, but since he’s out of the house living on his own, I naturally took on the role of looking after our mom.
When I’m not working, I’m gaming, watching animation shows, or reading fantasy books. I used to play Dungeons & Dragons, and I like to think I’m a creative person, even though imposter syndrome sometimes sneaks in. I also love looking up philosophical conundrums, even the weird or fake ones. And while I don’t play sports, I do admire them—especially basketball and volleyball. Basketball because I used to play it, and it’s non-stop action. Volleyball because those players will literally jump into the crowd just to keep the ball in play. The dedication is insane.
One thing about being a developer is that you’re never standing still. There’s always something new coming up, whether it’s a framework, a technique, or a whole new way of coding. That’s what makes this job exciting—you never stop learning.
