A Journey Through My Early Tech Adventures and Teenage Encounters

The final year of elementary school marked a turning point in my life. It was a time when my fascination with computers deepened. I dove into the world of programming, specifically Visual Basic, exploring its endless possibilities. I even tried reconstructing an antivirus from publicly available source codes on the internet. Blogging became another passion of mine—I meticulously tuned my blog, experimenting with SEO strategies, and the sheer joy I felt when my blog appeared on Google for the first time was indescribable. Seeing my name and photo appear in search results was a moment of pride, a digital footprint that felt significant.

Gaming was also a big part of my life. I spent hours playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted, engaging in intense shootouts in Point Blank at internet cafes with my friends, and scouring the web for game cheats, which I eagerly shared with others online. It was also during this time that I ventured into social media, creating my first Facebook account. I connected with people, made new friends, and even had a virtual girlfriend—whether she was truly who she claimed to be or not didn’t really matter to me. At that moment, I simply needed someone to chat with while I explored Facebook’s endless social maze.

Then came graduation. I achieved a perfect score in my math exam, a feat that earned me various gifts, including cash and, most importantly, my very first laptop. It was a pivotal moment, signifying not just academic success but also a step toward greater independence in my tech journey.

A New Chapter: Entering Middle School

Transitioning to middle school brought new challenges. I didn’t get accepted into the best school in the city, but surprisingly, I didn’t mind. In fact, it felt liberating. Not being in the most competitive environment allowed me to relax and enjoy the experience rather than constantly feeling pressured to excel.

One unexpected aspect of middle school was how often I found myself developing crushes on people. Unlike many others my age, I was never hesitant to express my feelings. I had no fear of rejection, and whenever I liked someone, I would tell them directly. I’d ask them to be my girlfriend, but I never used the word love. Somehow, saying I love you felt like swallowing my pride—something that made me cringe just thinking about it.

Strangely, all my relationships were incredibly short-lived. Most lasted just a day, while the longest one barely made it to a week. Once I confessed my feelings and we started dating, I felt as if the mission was complete. The idea of constantly texting or talking on the phone never appealed to me—I had no patience for it. Instead of officially breaking up, I would simply disappear, assuming in my mind that the relationship had ended. Whenever we crossed paths in school, we would exchange glances, but nothing more. That was the extent of my romantic life.

Leadership and the Unwanted Spotlight

Despite my somewhat detached attitude towards relationships, I was elected as class president. However, this newfound responsibility came with its own set of struggles. I became a frequent target of bullying, though I never really understood why. It seemed that being a leader, or perhaps just standing out in any way, automatically put a target on my back. Bullying became a constant in my life, something I endured without fully comprehending the reasons behind it.

Looking back, those years were a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. From my love for technology and blogging to my unconventional approach to relationships, and the struggles of navigating social dynamics, every moment shaped who I was becoming. And though middle school was filled with awkward encounters and difficult lessons, it was also a chapter of self-discovery—one that laid the foundation for the person I would grow into.