Journey

worldPopulation += 1. Starting in Turkey with veteran difficulty, tutorial mode was enabled and the main quest began. First checkpoint reached in 1996 with initial challenge "Access earliest retrievable memory" activated.

That first Windows 95 computer being brought home is a memory still vivid in my mind. As soon as I heard that iconic startup sound, I was hooked. I spent countless hours exploring every corner of that beige box, figuring out how things worked through pure trial and error. The 56k modem's distinct connection noise became the soundtrack to my adventures. The opening sequence of Duke Nukem still haunts my memories—those pig cops in dark corridors created such heart-pounding fear that I often couldn't continue playing, though I'd always return the next day hoping to be braver. Breaking and fixing system settings became my first debugging experiences. That machine wasn't just a computer - it was the beginning of my lifelong journey with technology.

I participated in a 3-week English course in Bournemouth, UK. Although communicating with strangers in an unfamiliar environment was challenging for me at that time, it turned out to be a unique and beautiful experience.

The immersion pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, forcing me to rely on the very language skills I was there to improve. Each day brought small victories—ordering at a café without hesitation, following directions from locals, or contributing to class discussions with growing confidence.

Our language program gave us practical tasks that pushed us beyond our comfort zones - visiting the local library to conduct interviews with residents, ordering meals independently at restaurants, and participating in interactive classroom sessions. The opportunity to connect with people from various nationalities enriched the experience, creating a truly international learning environment. On the final day, we prepared Turkish coffee for our hosts as a gesture of gratitude - they politely sipped it but couldn't hide their unimpressed expressions, lol.

This journey marked not just my first stamp in my passport, but the beginning of a broader perspective on the world and my place in it. The linguistic struggles and cultural disconnects I experienced taught me more about effective communication than any classroom setting could have.

In my sophomore year of high school, we were assigned to write a story for Language & Expression class. The teacher was so impressed with my work that she had the class applaud and kept my paper for herself. I remember writing an intensely melancholic story with yellow motifs throughout. It was a moment of self-discovery - while struggling with math-heavy subjects, I realised I had different dimensions to my creativity.

I earned admission to the Mathematics Engineering department (similar to Applied Mathematics). After a year of English preparatory classes, a new phase began where I had to discard all the mathematics knowledge that had been drilled into me during high school and start analyzing everything meticulously from the ground up. I still remember the definition of epsilon and the limit definition of derivatives. I also recall a beloved professor who, without knowing it, triggered a pivotal moment in my life when he said, "Question everything." This statement had such a profound impact that it launched a period of extensive reading across multiple fields - from philosophy to particle physics, science-history to theology.

I attended a 10-day retreat at the Mathematics Village in Şirince with a friend. It was a beautiful experience where I explored mathematics more deeply while realising it wasn't essential beyond general knowledge. We drank homemade wine, engaged in meaningful conversations, and participated in communal tasks within the commune system. We happened upon the nearby theater school where we met a Japanese monk, Iida Shigami. We spent an extraordinary night on a spiritual journey with him. It was an unexpected but memorable evening worth treasuring.

During my search for a mandatory internship, three friends and I began our programming journey at a small start-up. We were introduced to programming with C++, Qt framework, and working in an OpenGL environment. It was a period of developing hands-on projects while learning the fundamentals. Pointers had me pulling my hair out for days – who knew little arrows could be so complicated? For an entire year, I continued commuting there while attending university, constantly building and improving projects. This continued until my next adventure began.

During the onboarding process at Eczacıbaşı Holding, one particular training session left an indelible mark on me. We watched Steve Jobs' legendary 2005 Stanford University commencement address, and I found myself experiencing the same kind of awakening I had during my university years with the phrase "Question everything".

The "connecting the dots" segment of his speech resonated deeply with me. Jobs explained how seemingly random experiences in our past often connect in meaningful ways that only become clear in retrospect. His words validated my own instincts about following curiosity and interests without always knowing their immediate purpose.

Even today, I still draw strength and conviction from that message when making career decisions. It's become a personal philosophy that guides me through uncertainty and reminds me that the most interesting journeys rarely follow a straight line. When I find myself questioning whether to pursue an unconventional opportunity, I often return to Jobs' wisdom about trusting that the dots will somehow connect in the future.

The clock was ticking down to zero. Just days before my internship deadline, after numerous conversations with innovation teams across Eczacıbaşı Holding's subsidiaries, I still stood without a position. Then, almost cinematically, an opportunity emerged within the holding's central IT department itself.

The interview process challenged every assumption I had about corporate recruitment. I found myself in an impromptu role-playing scenario, tasked with persuading senior executives about technology investments—a high-pressure simulation that revealed capabilities I didn't know I possessed.

Over the following year, I navigated the complex machinery of corporate IT, contributing to enterprise procurement systems, implementing COBIT/ITIL frameworks, and participating in cross-company innovation initiatives.

What began as a last-minute placement evolved into a masterclass in enterprise technology management. The contrast with my previous startup experience proved invaluable—transitioning from the rapid iteration of small teams to the methodical, scale-focused approach of a major holding group fundamentally reshaped how I approach technology solutions today.

I know, you know.

After three years of juggling work and studies, my university adventure finally came to a close. As a fresh graduate with real-world experience already under my belt, I felt both excited and uniquely confident stepping into the professional world.

Interestingly, despite my technical education, I viewed software development as somewhat detached from the human element at the time - just tickets to complete and code to write. I yearned for something more social, more interactive - perhaps an analyst role where I could leverage both my technical knowledge and people skills.

Little did I know that this mindset would soon evolve as I discovered how deeply creative and collaborative software engineering could be. This graduation marked not just an academic achievement, but the beginning of an unexpected professional journey that would challenge my preconceptions about what building technology really meant.

After a year of figuring out which career path to pursue by trying what I didn't like, I started working as a SAP BI consultant at Inera. During my time there, I was involved in configuring reporting processes for companies like Kanyon Holding, Borusan Logistics, A101, and Türk Traktör, using SAP's reporting applications such as Design Studio and Web Intelligence.

One day, a project came in to develop a Vehicle Tracking system for Borusan Logistics using the Web Intelligence application. This was my first professional encounter with front-end development, and I remember thinking, "This is it!" I had discovered the field where I could work passionately and be productive throughout my career.

Just a few days after signing my contract with Garanti BBVA Technology, an unpleasant chain of events began in my life. When I went to get a chest X-ray for health insurance, I was diagnosed with Spontaneous Pneumothorax. I underwent surgery the next day, and we began waiting for everything to return to normal.

After some time, a leak was detected in my lung, and I had to undergo a second surgery. While all this was happening, my father's health condition worsened, and he was in intensive care with my mother attending to him. It was one of the most challenging periods of my life.

These simultaneous health crises created a strange limbo where my exciting new career opportunity suddenly felt distant and uncertain. The stark hospital rooms and anxious waiting became my reality instead of the new desk and projects I had been anticipating. The contrast between my professional expectations and personal reality couldn't have been more pronounced.

Looking back, this was simply one of the most difficult periods of my life. There was no profound lesson or silver lining - just a challenging time where multiple medical crises collided with what should have been an exciting new professional beginning. Managing my own recovery while worrying about my father created a level of stress and uncertainty I hadn't experienced before, and I'm grateful to have made it through that turbulent period.

As soon as I discovered my passion for frontend development, I began searching for opportunities to pursue this path professionally. This search led me to Garanti BBVA Technology, where from my very first day until my decision to leave, I worked with genuine passion on remarkable projects and formed extraordinary friendships.

The environment at Garanti BBVA Technology provided the perfect blend of challenge and support for a developer eager to grow in frontend development. I immersed myself in projects that pushed my technical boundaries while collaborating with talented colleagues who elevated my standards and expanded my perspective on what quality software development should look l

Following a successful 1.5-2 years, I transitioned to the Common Channel Architecture team. My responsibility there was to design and code infrastructure modules (API invoker, state-management structures, logging, micro-frontend infrastructure) that other developers would use during the company's infrastructure renewal process.

I had originally envisioned working at this company for approximately 3 years, and as I approached that timeframe, I began looking for new opportunities. During an interview with an international company, when they told me, "Improve your English, then come back," I immediately recognized my area of weakness. The message was clear - I needed a position where I could actively develop my English language skills!

I lost my father. There are no words to express.

One of the projects I'm most proud of—and my first professional encounter with ReactJS - was developing the company's social platform from zero to hero. It was an educational and passion-filled project where I participated in every stage, from UX meetings to final bug fixes.

The platform featured timeline and post-liking capabilities similar to Facebook, alongside a custom CMS infrastructure managed by HR. It has been actively used since 2018 - my first baby! More than a technical achievement, this project represented my evolution as a developer who could own an entire product lifecycle.

Beyond the social platform, my time at Garanti BBVA Technology was filled with diverse development challenges. I built branch office interfaces that streamlined customer service operations, integrated a customer chatbot into the company's homepage to enhance user experience, and contributed to ATM-related developments that improved the banking experience. Each project expanded my technical repertoire while deepening my understanding of how frontend applications directly impact both internal operations and customer satisfaction in the financial sector.

My professional journey paused briefly for my mandatory 21-day military service in Elazığ - the farthest I'd traveled in Turkey. After years of building a career on proactive problem-solving, I found myself in an environment requiring the opposite: simply following orders without question.

Surprisingly, this temporary release from decision-making felt refreshing. The structured environment reminded me of high school—a nostalgic return to clearly defined expectations. In my professional life, seeking responsibility and anticipating needs had become automatic. For these three weeks, that mental algorithm could be switched off completely.

This intermission offered unexpected perspective. The contrast highlighted how my approach to work had evolved over time and gave me renewed appreciation for the creative freedom that characterises my career in software engineering.

I made the decision to undergo rhinoplasty, welcoming a new face that would accompany me for the rest of my life. The choice wasn't one I agonized over for months or years, as many do; rather, I recognized what I wanted and acted with pace. This choice reflected my desire for change and a new sense of confidence. It felt empowering to take control of my appearance and embrace a look that felt more authentic to who I am. The journey was both exciting and transformative, marking a significant chapter in my life.

In November, I joined PropertyFinder as they expanded into Turkey, becoming their first front-end engineer in the region. This marked the beginning of a truly international chapter in my career, allowing me to work with colleagues from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds. The experience was invaluable; I found myself both influencing decisions and rapidly absorbing knowledge. With the Turkish office just being established, management from Dubai frequently visited for orientation, introducing the company culture to new employees in Turkey. During one of these visits, I identified an opportunity to take the initiative. Instead of merely having the visiting team learn about our culture, I decided to introduce them to ours.

I prepared a presentation about Turkish culture for the executive team, covering topics from our love of cats to our traditions of hospitality. I arranged for unique prints of Tarık Tolunay's famous "Fractal Istanbul" isometric city maps to be given as gifts. As a Steve Jobs enthusiast, I couldn't resist emulating his presentation style, complete with a "There's one more thing..." moment that neatly summarized everything.

The presentation was a success, bridging cultural gaps and establishing deeper connections across the company. This experience reinforced the idea that social initiatives can be incredibly valuable, even in technical roles – sometimes, the most meaningful contributions come from outside your job description.

When the world shut down, my apartment became my entire universe. What started as a temporary work-from-home situation transformed into a new reality lasting longer than anticipated. I found a rhythm that seemed sustainable - coding for hours, taking on previously impossible freelance projects, and turning gaming sessions into nightly social rituals with friends across different time zones. The freelance work flourished, creating a satisfying feedback loop of confidence and income that temporarily masked the changes happening to my body and mind.

It wasn't until I needed new clothes that I confronted what months of sedentary living had done. I encountered burnout not as a theoretical concept from tech blogs, but as a lived experience with physical symptoms - weight gain, unpredictable energy levels, and the complete blurring of lines between work and rest.

While searching for international opportunities, I received an interview invitation from Easy Software. Heading to their Istanbul office, I had no idea I'd be meeting with someone from abroad. To my surprise, I found myself sitting across from Stephan Bitomsky - someone I deeply respected and considered an idol in that time.

Rather than following a standard interview process, our conversation evolved into an engaging three-hour discussion. I discovered in Stephan someone who shared my passion for coding, possessed a multifaceted product development vision, and represented everything I hoped to learn from.

I accepted their offer immediately, recognizing this as my chance to improve my English while working alongside someone truly inspiring. I later helped a close friend join Easy Software as well, allowing us both to embark on this exciting new journey together. This opportunity opened the door to an international career path I had been seeking - one where I could grow both professionally and linguistically.

When I received an invitation from a recruiter to interview at a startup, I eagerly embraced the opportunity. Startups had always represented environments where I could take initiative and navigate dynamics that were vastly different from corporate settings. I was excited for this exact challenge. As Steve Jobs once said, "I wanted to put a dent in the universe." After a swift interview process, I joined the American startup Journey.io as a founding engineer. This experience would immerse me in significant technical challenges and the unique ecosystem of early-stage companies.

My time at Journey.io became a crash course in accelerated growth. I tackled technical problems that pushed the limits of my knowledge while navigating the uncertainties inherent in startup life. Beyond my engineering responsibilities, I took the initiative to propose a small budget for team gifts near the end of the year — a gesture that became a meaningful contribution to our developing company culture. This experience taught me that even small, thoughtful acts can foster connection and a sense of belonging in high-pressure environments.

This period not only deepened my technical expertise but also reshaped how I approached collaboration and feedback. The intensity of the startup environment acted as a pressure cooker for my professional growth, demonstrating that the human elements - trust, transparency, and shared purpose - are just as critical to success as technical execution. The lessons I learned at Journey.io continue to shape how I think about building products and cultivating culture.

Amsterdam greeted us with its relaxed charm and picturesque canals, encouraging exploration without a strict plan. My friend and I enjoyed colorful treats in Vondelpark, feeling like we were collecting power-ups in a Super Mario game. Fueled by spontaneity, we decided on a whim to visit Paris.

The shift from Amsterdam's cozy atmosphere to Paris's grand boulevards was striking. Standing beneath the Louvre's glass pyramid, I was captivated by masterpieces I'd only seen in books. This unexpected cultural immersion over three days taught me that the best experiences often come from journeys that unfold naturally, rather than those we try to meticulously plan.

In my 20s and early 30s, I was primarily focused on external life challenges and neglected my inner self. By the time I reached my 30s, I realized I needed to make some changes; I understood that I was limiting myself in introspection and had fallen into a rut.

Through therapy, I uncovered my automatic responses and challenged my perceptions of myself, which led to significant personal growth.

As I continue through my 30s, I embrace a more holistic sense of self and have discovered that self-understanding is just as important as mastering new technologies. Exploring my internal world has been as rewarding as any technical challenge.

When Journey.io shut down its operations due to market conditions, I found myself in unfamiliar territory - an unexpected period of unemployment that ultimately became a valuable time for reflection and renewal. Throughout my career, I had moved swiftly from one opportunity to the next with hardly any time for pause, making this forced break something that would never have happened had circumstances not demanded it.

While one part of me recognized this as a rare opportunity to genuinely recharge, another part immediately felt the stress of searching for the next adventure, creating an internal tension that defined those three months. This unplanned break revealed the powerful duality of professional transitions - the space between endings and beginnings holds both anxiety and possibility.

Gaming defined my early years, from elementary school through high school. I eagerly participated in offline tournaments for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, competing in what would eventually evolve into the formalized e-sports scene we know today. Those LAN parties and competitive matches were formative experiences that taught me about teamwork, strategy, and the satisfaction of mastering complex skills. However, as life's responsibilities grew after high school, my gaming PC gathered dust, and that part of my identity faded into nostalgic memories.

I finally built the high-end PC I had always wanted, carefully selecting each component to create a machine capable of efficiently handling modern titles. Returning to Hell Let Loose and Warzone has been humbling and exhilarating. Though my reflexes may not match my teenage peak, they remain surprisingly sharp, allowing me to hold my own in competitive play. The most rewarding aspect has been rediscovering the thrill of competition and reconnecting with a part of myself that had been dormant for too long. I have found a perfect balance between nostalgic familiarity and the excitement of experiencing how games have evolved during my absence.

What started as a simple trip ended up shifting something much deeper in me. I spent twenty days living and working remotely in Spain, and during that time, I found myself immersed in a way of life that felt both unfamiliar and surprisingly grounding.

Spain's rhythm is unlike anything I'd experienced before—a natural flow between work and rest, and an everyday culture built around vivid moments. The warm sunlight bathing narrow streets, the aromas of street food sizzling, and the perfectly preserved Andalusian architecture creating living museums out of ordinary neighborhoods—all of it captivated me. Most striking was the Mediterranean warmth of the people themselves, who transformed simple interactions into meaningful connections. I didn't just observe it; I lived it. And in doing so, something shifted in how I think about time, connection, and what a "good life" actually looks like.

I’d always pictured myself more in Northern Europe-drawn to the independence, the structure, the quiet efficiency. But this experience made me question whether those things are really what I need, or just what I thought I should want. There was something about the warmth of Spain - its people, its streets, its openness-that made me feel more present, more alive.

If I ever decide to move abroad, I always assumed it would be somewhere north. Now, unexpectedly, Spain is at the top of my list. It reminded me that living in a new place isn’t just about geography-it’s about opening yourself up to new rhythms, new values, and maybe even a new version of yourself.

From day one at livelink.ai, I was impressed by the warmth of the team culture and the fast-paced environment, which somehow felt welcoming rather than overwhelming. However, what truly captivated me was something more technical - the exceptional code quality and thoughtful software architecture I encountered during my onboarding. After taking a moment to reflect, stepping into a codebase built with such care and intention felt like finding solid ground. The technical foundation wasn’t just functional; it embodied the craftsmanship I had come to value throughout my career.

My passion for product development had evolved significantly during my previous role. The experiences I accumulated - both successes and setbacks—and the feedback I diligently gathered transformed my approach, pushing it toward a more matured iteration. Now, at Livelink, I felt ready to make an impact and take the initiative in ways that built upon this evolution. The three-month gap had served its purpose; I returned to the field not just refreshed but recalibrated, bringing with me a deeper understanding of both technical excellence and what it means to contribute meaningfully to a team and product with genuine potential.

After some economic turbulence at livelink.ai, I’ve started looking for a new role. Unlike other stressful transitions I’ve faced in the past, this time I feel a strong sense of clarity and drive. I’m approaching the process with a level head, staying grounded and focused—without overthinking, and with more motivation than ever to move forward with purpose.

During my time at Livelink, I had the chance to work with incredibly talented engineers and thoughtful leaders. It was a rich and rewarding experience that I’m genuinely grateful for.

I've been building healthier routines lately—nothing dramatic, just meaningful shifts that matter to me. In this quiet reconstruction, I'm applying philosophical ideas I once only contemplated, establishing a more consistent practice of activities that genuinely make me feel better.

These aren't mere habits but foundational elements I'm carefully placing to build something more aligned with my true self. It's about showing up with greater care each day -rising not triumphantly, but gently and persistently- until, perhaps, I shine.