Kasem Tanson

I started working as a Full Stack Developer in 2019, and I have to say, all I had was basic programming knowledge from university. When I got into the real job, it became clear that I knew nothing. I had never even heard of popular frameworks like Vue.js or Laravel.

At the beginning, I was tasked with using Vue.js for the frontend and Laravel for building APIs on the backend, along with MySQL, which were all new to me. I can honestly say that back then, I was struggling to keep up with my teammates. I felt like I was much slower than everyone else. So, I decided to put in extra effort to learn — from setting up projects, writing APIs, connecting databases, to designing ER-Diagrams. Eventually, I was able to complete a project and deliver it successfully.

By 2021, I started being able to handle every part of the process on my own. No longer needing to wait for others to tell me what to do, I even began helping to guide my teammates with their code.

At this point, I was also involved in planning tasks and managing projects. I used Jira to work within an Agile Scrum environment. My role expanded beyond just writing code to include tasks like planning projects, estimating timelines, designing databases, writing both frontend and backend code, fixing bugs, testing, and managing backend systems.

It was during this time that I took on more of a mentorship role, sharing my experiences and helping ensure that the team was working smoothly.

In late 2022, I transitioned to a Senior Developer role and started managing a small team (1-2 people). My responsibilities shifted significantly. Instead of writing code all day, I now focused on planning, reviewing code, deciding on the technologies for the project, and coordinating with various teams such as BA and Designers.

Additionally, I was responsible for creating the project roadmap, prioritizing tasks, and evaluating my team's work. I also spent time researching new technologies that could potentially benefit future projects.

Even though I don't write code every day like I used to, I still find joy in helping my team, supporting their work, and pushing the team forward together.

The journey from a fresh graduate who barely knew any frameworks to where I am today — managing teams, overseeing projects, and mentoring others — has been filled with continuous learning, development, and adaptation. I believe that growth in this field is not measured solely by how well one writes code, but also by the ability to communicate, plan, and support the growth of others.

"I am determined to continue developing myself as I strive toward even greater goals in the future."