Maddi
Madara

My Story

At 18, I moved to England with one simple goal: to find happiness. Sounds straightforward. It wasn't.

For years I chased that feeling — building a life in a new country, learning to adapt, figuring out where I truly belonged. Like many people, I believed happiness was something you eventually arrive at. Turns out, it's usually hiding inside the things that challenge you most.

Deep down, I always wanted more than just a job. I wanted freedom, flexibility, and work that genuinely excited me. The answer had been with me the whole time — technology had quietly followed me for years.

One of my first real projects was building a website with a classmate back in school. At the time it felt like homework. Looking back, those were my first steps into something much bigger. I loved Informatika — the IT classes that made me curious about how computers, systems, and digital worlds actually worked. That curiosity never left. It just needed the right moment to wake up.

For me, that moment came after COVID. The answer became clear: remote work, freedom, and something I genuinely loved doing. That search led me to AWS.

At first it was just curiosity. Then curiosity became commitment. I enrolled in AWS Academy, spent countless hours studying, and collected certifications while learning a world that felt both exciting and slightly terrifying. Some days I felt unstoppable. Other days, cloud architecture felt less like Amazon Web Services and more like Absolutely, Why am I Struggling.

But something had shifted. For the first time, I wasn't learning because I had to. I was learning because I loved it. That passion eventually led me to my role at Capita.

And honestly? That part was scary. Imagine being dropped into the ocean while everyone around you seems to have been born swimming. Imposter syndrome showed up immediately — uninvited and louder than ever.

The truth is, growth rarely feels graceful. Sometimes it's opening your laptop and quietly hoping today isn't the day you break production. But little by little, something shifts. Fear slowly turns into confidence — and confidence doesn't come before action. It comes from showing up, again and again, especially when you feel unsure.

I came to England looking for happiness. What I found was purpose. And I have a feeling this is only the beginning.