Before I Led Communities, They Built Me

If you had told me a few years ago that one day I would be leading cloud communities with over a thousand developers, speaking about cloud technologies, mentoring aspiring engineers, and building a career in Cloud and DevOps, I honestly wouldn't have believed you.

Not because I didn't dream big.

But because I knew the girl I was when I started.

She was curious, but inconsistent. Excited, but unsure. Passionate, but constantly wondering if she was good enough.

Looking back now, I realize that growth doesn't always happen because you have the perfect plan. Sometimes, it happens because you choose to keep saying "yes" to learning, even when you don't know where that "yes" will lead.

## It All Started With My Brother

My introduction to technology wasn't through a bootcamp, a YouTube recommendation, or social media.

It was through my older brother.

Right after I finished secondary school, he introduced me to the world of tech. He's a Product Designer, and he encouraged me to learn frontend development.

The funny thing is… I wasn't interested and that was because I simply didn't see myself in it yet.

Life moved on, and it wasn't until almost two years later that something changed.

I picked up frontend development. This time, I was interested. But being interested wasn't enough. I wasn't consistent.

I'd learn for a while, stop, come back again, disappear for weeks, and repeat the cycle.

I wanted to become better, but I hadn't yet developed the discipline that growth requires.

## University Changed Everything

I got into university and decided that I was going to be better. I made a decision to take learning seriously. That season of my life wasn't easy.

I was trying to balance my academics, work as a research writer, and learning frontend development—all at the same time.

There were days when it felt overwhelming. Assignments, client deadlines, practicals, classes and I still had to keep learning.

Sometimes I wondered if I was stretching myself too thin.

But somehow, I kept going.

Looking back, I don't think I was trying to prove anything to anyone else.

I was simply trying to become a better version of myself than I was yesterday.

## Curiosity Changed the Direction of My Career

I was scrolling online one day and I came across a post about Cloud Engineering.

I had no idea what cloud engineering really was and I became curious and wanted to know more.

That curiosity became one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I started asking questions. What exactly is cloud computing? Why are companies moving to the cloud? What do Cloud Engineers actually do?

For the first time, I realized there was an entire world behind the applications I had been building as a frontend developer.

Infrastructure, Servers, Networking, Automation, Security, Deployment, Scalability.

Everything that users never see but rely on every single day.

I knew I wanted to learn more.

## I Didn't Learn Alone, Communities Helped Me

If there's one thing I can confidently say shaped my career more than anything else, it's community.

Communities gave me access to things I probably wouldn't have found on my own.

Resource, Mentors, Learning opportunities,Events,Friends. People who believed in me before I fully believed in myself.

One of those communities was the AWS Student Builder Group FUTO, formerly known as AWS Cloud Club FUTO.

Being a part of the community completely changed my learning experience.

Instead of trying to figure everything out alone, I was surrounded by people asking the same questions, solving similar problems, and cheering one another on.

I also found incredible opportunities through communities like Google Developer Groups (GDG), NexaScale, and several other tech ecosystems that invested in helping beginners grow.

Every workshop I attended, every technical session, every community challenge, and every conversation added another piece to my journey.

Communities didn't just teach me cloud. They taught me confidence.

## Representation Matters

One of the most beautiful parts of this journey has been meeting incredible women in Cloud and DevOps.

Meeting women who were building amazing careers, leading technical communities, speaking at conferences, and solving real engineering problems completely changed my mindset.

They made the impossible feel possible.

Seeing women thrive reminded me that I belonged too.

Today, whenever I have the opportunity to encourage another young lady entering tech, I remember how much seeing someone ahead of me mattered.

## The Silent Battle With Imposter Syndrome

As exciting as this journey has been, it hasn't been without struggles.

Like many people in tech, I wrestled and sometimes still wrestle with imposter syndrome.

There were moments I questioned whether I was learning fast enough, whether I was doing enough, or whether I truly belonged in the rooms I found myself in.

I'd compare my journey to people who seemed miles ahead and wonder if I was falling behind.

It wasn't easy, but one thing I never allowed those thoughts to do was stop me. I kept learning. I kept building. I kept volunteering. I kept showing up.

Not because I always felt confident, but because I knew growth demanded that I show up regardless, even on the days confidence was nowhere to be found.

Then, something interesting started happening.

People began reaching out to me.

Others shared that watching my transition into Cloud Engineering gave them the confidence to begin theirs.

Others simply wanted me to know that seeing someone who looked like them navigating the same path made the journey feel a little less intimidating.

Those conversations didn't suddenly erase my imposter syndrome.

But they reminded me that impact doesn't always announce itself.

Sometimes, people are quietly learning from your consistency while you're busy wondering if you're making any difference at all.

Sometimes, you're encouraging people you've never met simply by continuing to show up.

And sometimes, the seeds you're planting today only become visible much later.

Now, whenever self-doubt creeps in, I remind myself that growth isn't measured by how confident I feel on any given day. It's measured by my willingness to keep going.

## Full Circle

Today, I have the privilege of leading the AWS Student Builder Group FUTO, a community of over 1,000 members, and the Google Developer Group (GDG) Cloud Club FUTO, where we're building a growing community of cloud enthusiasts.

Every event we organize…
Every beginner we encourage…
Every technical session we host…

Reminds me of the girl who once didn't know where to begin.

It's funny how life comes full circle. The communities that once poured into me now trust me to pour into others. And that is a responsibility I don't take lightly.

If there's one lesson my journey has taught me, it's this:

You don't need to have everything figured out before you start.

You just need to stay curious. Be willing to learn.Be willing to ask questions. Be willing to show up consistently, even when progress feels slow.

Most importantly, don't try to do it alone.

Find your community.

The right community can change your perspective, your confidence, your opportunities, and sometimes even the entire direction of your career.

To every young woman wondering whether there's a place for you in Cloud, DevOps, or tech in general... There is.

Your journey won't look exactly like mine, and it shouldn't.

But don't let fear convince you that you aren't capable.

Because chances are, you're stronger than you think.

I know I'm nowhere close to where I want to be. There is still so much to learn. So many dreams I haven't accomplished yet.

But when I pause and look back, I can't help but be grateful.

Grateful for the communities that embraced me.

Grateful for every mentor, every friend, every opportunity, every challenge, and every lesson.

Most of all, I'm grateful that I didn't give up.

The biggest transformation doesn't happen when you reach your destination. It happens when you realize how far you've already come.