HOW MENTORSHIP SHAPE MY JOURNEY
AS BACKEND DEVELOPER

When I look back at my journey as a backend developer, now more than 4 years in, it feels almost unreal how far I’ve come. I wasn’t always this focused or passionate about backend systems, architecture, or clean code. In fact, if you told my younger self I’d end up writing APIs instead of building games, I probably would’ve laughed.

I started out young, curious, and honestly quite lost. I didn’t really know what I was doing or where I was heading. I was just another kid sitting behind a screen, trying to figure out life, until one day, I discovered Dota.

It might sound strange, but that game changed something in me. Watching how complex the mechanics were, how beautifully systems interacted behind the scenes, it made me curious. I started wondering ‘How does this even work?’ That curiosity became my first spark, my first dream, to one day become a Game Developer.

Back then, I didn’t have fancy equipment. I started studying computer and programming with my old Celeron PC, only 500MB of RAM, in an era when most computers already had 2GB. It was slow, painfully slow. Sometimes it took minutes just to open an Notepad++ or run a small script.

But that old PC was my lab. I spent hours learning how code works, breaking things, fixing them, and learning how computers could bring ideas to life.

And then, one day, I met Aniki, my first real mentor.

Aniki wasn’t just a senior developer. He was a guide. He helped me build my first mobile game, which became my first moment of pride, a small but unforgettable proof that I could create something from scratch. He didn’t just teach me how to write better code. He taught me how to think like a developer. He showed me that being good at coding wasn’t just about syntax or frameworks, but about understanding systems, solving problems, and learning continuously.

That was my first door, the first real step closer to my dream.

Through him, I learned the power of mentorship. The realization that you don’t grow alone. There will always be people ahead of you. People who’ve walked the same path, made the same mistakes, and are willing to help you avoid them.

Over the years, I met more mentors. I met Maverik when I started my career as a junior backend developer, and he’s been my mentor until now. He’s the kind of person who always pushes me out of my comfort zone, constantly triggering my curiosity to learn new technologies. Thanks to him, I started exploring not only the backend side, but also the DevOps world: things like CI/CD pipelines, system architecture, and even diving into Golang, which quickly became one of my favorite languages to experiment with.

Some mentors teach you technical skills. Others teach you mindset.

Over time, I met even more people: colleagues, managers, friends and each one shaped me in their own way. They pushed me when I doubted myself, corrected me when I was wrong, and celebrated small wins that I didn’t even notice.

Looking back, I think mentorship is one of the most underrated parts of growth. We talk a lot about learning new frameworks, watching tutorials, and taking online courses. But the truth is, no book or video can replace having someone who believes in you, who helps you see your potential when you can’t.

Today, I still carry that lesson. Every time I mentor a junior dev, I remember how important that role is. Because maybe, just maybe that person will one day look back and say, “That was my first door.”

Mentorship is cyclical, the support we receive becomes the support we give.

So if you’re still early in your journey, feeling lost or unsure where to start, find your mentor.
It doesn’t have to be a formal title. It could be a senior at work, a friend who knows more than you, or even someone whose work inspires you.

Because your mentors aren’t just people who teach you skills. They’re the ones who help you find your path.