Growing up, I wanted to be a… Play the African drumroll… Doctor! Of course! That’s what my dad (and mum I think) wanted me to be, and going against the wishes of African parents was simply not an option. I genuinely enjoyed studying Maths, Biology, and Chemistry at the start of my O-levels, so it felt like a no-brainer to carry on with these subjects at A-level. This was my clear path to studying medicine and eventually becoming a dermatologist.
But then, life had other plans. I had to transfer to another school mid-O-level, and the new setup split classes into Arts and Commercials, or Sciences and Commercials. Unfortunately, the Sciences class was full, and I’d have to join the Arts class. I really didn’t care – I was more excited about starting at a new school. However, my dad wasn’t happy. He asked the school head, “Can’t you just take a desk from the other class and place it in the Sciences class? Because ini mwana wangu akuda kuita doctor” (Translation: Because my child wants to be a doctor).
The school didn’t budge. My dad, clearly disappointed, asked if I could manage Arts and what I’d consider as a career instead. Without giving it much thought, I blurted out, “I’ll be a lawyer.” His silence said it all – likely even internally rolled his eyes. He probably knew, deep down, that I wasn’t cut out for Law. What was I even thinking? 😂
Fast-forward nearly two years later, and it was time to decide which subjects to study at A-level. My dad called me to ask what I’d chosen, his tone almost carrying the unspoken “But these won’t make you a doctor, though, will they?” vibes. When I confidently said I wanted to study Computer Science, he was (kind of) stunned. He asked if I was sure. I was. And that’s how I officially began my journey into the world of computers, eventually studying Computer Science at university. The rest? Well, that’s a story still being written.
Here’s why I chose this path:
1. My Dad’s Laptop
When we were kids, my dad sometimes brought home his work laptop. It ran WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3, and we passed commands on it through the DOS prompt. I know this probably sounds so ancient and giving away my age but, at the time, navigating these felt like magic! We fought over it so much that we had to take turns.
Most of our one-hour turn-taking slots were spent exploring these same apps, randomly pressing keys, and issuing commands that did absolutely nothing – but it was still exciting. I was obsessed with figuring out how to “talk” to that machine, even though I didn’t fully understand how it worked and my dad could only teach me so much. And he did teach me a fair amount of things to be honest – especially as I got older – spreadsheets & documents in particular.
2. Miss Indechi, Miss Kubi & Mr Nyamukachi
In primary school, our first computer teachers, Miss Indechi and Miss Kubi, were my heroes! My first tech superstars that looked like me. They introduced us to monitors, CPUs, keyboards, and floppy disks. I adored them and wanted to be like them – confident, knowledgeable, and sophisticated in all things computers.
Then came Mr Nyamukachi, my A-level Computing teacher, who remains my all-time favourite educator. He made learning about computers exciting, challenged me without making me feel inadequate, and inspired me to use tech to solve real-world problems. His influence even sparked my love for mentoring and coaching others such that to this day, whenever I have to step into a role I have to teach, he often comes to mind.
3. Bill Gates
During my childhood, teenage years, and early 20s, Bill Gates was the world’s richest man. Seeing tech dominate global wealth conversations in the early 2000s and then those brave enough to innovate reap financial rewards and recognition, was inspiring. I mean, who doesn’t want to build some wealth? While I didn’t realistically imagine myself in Silicon Valley (yet), the idea of building a stable, well-paying career through tech was deeply appealing.
4. Hollywood’s Portrayal of Silicon Valley
I’ve grown to not be a TV person but when I do make time, I’m a sucker for geeky movies and series about startups and Silicon Valley. Such shows fuel my imagination, and experiencing Silicon Valley remains the only long-standing item on my bucket list. It’s been there since way before I ever had a passport. While I’ve never pictured myself in a courtroom as a lawyer or a consultation room as a dermatologist, I’ve definitely held close a vision of me working in Silicon Valley.
5. Desire to Solve Problems
If you scroll through the notes app on my phone or laptop, you’ll find scattered ideas for solving everyday problems. Many are quite odd and probably silly, but some are practical. I love seeing how technology can be applied to make life easier, and even when I’m not building these solutions, watching others innovate to address my problems really lights me up.
That said, choosing a career in tech wasn’t something I had to agonise over. At some point, it seemed like a natural fit for my curiosity, interests, and desire to make an impact. While my journey to thinking seriously about my career started with a little twist of fate, it’s shaped who I am today. By pursuing a career in tech, I’ve learned how it offers endless opportunities to innovate, solve real-life problems, and positively impact communities.
I know my story isn’t unique. Many people have taken different, sometimes surprising, paths into tech. Some stumbled into it by chance, like my university friend who ended up thriving in a programme he took as a default option. Others, like me, had an early spark of fascination that grew into a passion.
What’s your tech story? Did you always know this was your path, or did you discover it along the way? I’d love to hear from you. Share a snippet of your journey in the comments!