The first time I asked Radu to appear in the next edition of Tech Story, he said he didn't think he had anything interesting to tell me. "My story is pretty basic," he told me. We hadn't had many interactions before, but I had the chance to talk to him two or three times. What I noticed every time we met was that he always spoke with a lot of passion and involvement. That's why I was sure that his "basic" story was more than that. So, I insisted we meet, and eventually, he agreed.
And I was right. The conversation with Radu, originally from Deva, was more than pleasant. Radu is very open to telling stories and has many things to tell. He laughs a lot and has all the funny stories under his sleeve. I discovered an interesting life journey, guided by a positive spirit full of passion, with a unique life philosophy. If you want to find out how a sports and medicine enthusiast became a programmer or how important the role of destiny is in our lives, read the interview below.
Radu, until the 10th grade, you wanted to go to medical school...
Yes, because I really liked biology since middle school, and in high school, I had a teacher who inspired me a lot. I always had the curiosity to delve into details and analyze the complexity of the human body. Looking back, I realize that this passion for biology also helped me in programming. It's more or less the same principle of looking for systems and understanding how a complex of elements works. They are somewhat interconnected.
So, this curiosity turned out to be helpful for your future…
Yes, exactly. In the end, you must do what you like, and I couldn't see myself in any other job. I always needed to discover, to use my imagination, to build things, and to find solutions.
And what eventually happened to the medical school? Why did you give it up?
Because I realized how much I had to study [laughs]. Actually, it was chemistry that made me give up. I didn't like it at all. Besides that, I realized I wouldn't be strong enough mentally to live with the thought that I couldn't save everyone if I became a doctor. It's worse to lose a patient than to mess up a computer system, although that's not ideal either [laughs].
How did you end up shifting towards IT eventually?
I was pretty good at math as well, and I think I was indirectly inspired by my father because he also worked in the field. I say indirectly because he wasn't the kind of parent who expected me to have the same career as him. However, I believe parents inspire you anyway, whether you like it or not. My father was the one who taught me the basics of programming. He helped me a lot at the beginning, and from there, I managed on my own. By the end of high school, I was already devouring computer science.
And at the end of high school, you decided to move to Cluj for University...
Yes, after high school, I chose to go to the Uni in Cluj because all my friends were going there, and I wanted to have fun. I had some ideas about the specialization I wanted to choose, but everything was decided at the last minute. Although I wanted to go to Computer Science, I ended up in Automation at the Polytechnic because I changed the order on my admission form at the last moment. I really wanted a place in the dormitory to stay with my friends, so I needed to get free tuition at the University, so I also opted for Automation as a backup option. But as fate would have it, I ended up in English Automation. That's how it was meant to be. I believe life chooses for you, not the other way around.
Is that your life philosophy?
I firmly believe in it. No matter how much you try to influence certain things, in the end, the universe, or whatever you believe in, brings you to the right path.
So, did it turn out to be a happy accident?
Yes, definitely. I had a lot of fun, but I also learned a lot. I ended up in a wonderful group that made me appreciate my time in college enormously. There was always a desire to help each other. I remember that before exams, we had a special method of studying together: we gathered in the reading room and divided into four groups depending on how advanced we were in different courses, and those in the advanced groups helped those in the less advanced groups to understand what we had to study. That's where I learned what teamwork means. Plus, a professor there recommended me for my first job.
Speaking of the job, how did you end up at RebelDot?
When I decided to leave my former job, I had three offers, and I chose RebelDot on the recommendation of a current colleague. What I heard about how cool the people in the company are, convinced me. And I think intuition helped me. As I said, destiny.
Which is better? To go with your gut or to sit and analyze?
I think the correct way would be to sit and analyze very well and carefully what you are going to do. But I don't do that every time. It has never really worked out for me. In the end, I think you must choose based on your personality and who you are. That is, if you are a rational person, you will suffer if you make choices based only on feelings and intuition. The same goes for the other way around. That's how I am. Rationally, maybe I should have made other decisions throughout my life, but here I am. And I'm very well. I wouldn't trade the memories I've accumulated so far for any amount of money.
And how has your experience been at RebelDot so far?
Exceptional! I've learned a lot of new things, like specializing in .NET, although I was more inclined towards full-stack before. I've grown a lot professionally. I've also earned two cloud certifications here. I think it's a very suitable workplace for me because it doesn't let me stagnate. Plus, I appreciate the fact that we have a nice office that is always at our disposal, as I am an extroverted person who prefers to work more from the office because I need to see people constantly. I would always choose to go to the office rather than stay at home. And besides all this, I've already participated in three inter-company football championships [laughs]. We're making progress there too. Ah, and not to forget, I've had so many cool parties with my colleagues so far!
What's it like to work on a project like Kreatorhood? What do you particularly like about this project?
At Kreatorhood a lot of things happen quickly, and it challenges me to make quick decisions. It trains and develops me. It's like going to the gym. My colleagues are great; even though some of them are much more advanced, they don't make me feel behind at all. There is no micromanagement. I greatly appreciate that we are all truly a team.
What was the challenge from which you learned the most?
When I first took responsibility for a big feature. I did most of the tasks in it, and in the end, it turned out very well, without too many crashes. I was still pretty new to the project, and it was the first time I had to do something so complicated. I think you must challenge yourself every day to grow and stay motivated.
You talk a lot about sports. How important is sport to you?
Very important, and it has been since I was little. My dream was to become a professional footballer, but I fell in love with all ball sports. Besides football, I have played basketball, volleyball, and handball over time. The fact that I practiced sports so much greatly developed my work ethic and other skills I have now. I can give you three important things I learned from sports, which I couldn't have learned anywhere else: the motivation to become better, the desire to finish whatever I start, and discipline, in the sense of being responsible and taking ownership of any decision I make. I believe that team sports teach you more meaningful things than many useless courses in the current education system. Besides that, it also gave me reasons to skip many classes in high school [laughs].
How was it to see the Romanian national football team qualify for the World Cup live? You were in Hungary for the match against Israel, weren't you?
Yes, it was incredible! I think I aged 25 years with all the shouting and excitement in the stadium [proudly shows me the wallpaper on his phone with a screenshot of Romania's last victory against Switzerland]. Here's a funny story: At the match against Israel, I appeared live on TV. And you know what I was wearing? A RebelDot sweatshirt. Talk to the marketing team to get me a percentage of the sales [laughs]. I can't wait to go to the Championship in Germany. I'll work remotely from there. See, there's also a positive side to the possibility of working remotely.
Finally, tell me something about yourself that makes you feel fulfilled.
I can say that I consider myself a lucky man because I can afford to maintain my first great passion, sports, by working on my second great passion, programming.
Radu's narrative reveals the importance of following one's passions and being open to where life leads. His transition from a keen interest in biology and sports to a fulfilling career in programming highlights the power of following one's passions and being receptive to life's surprises. His experiences show the significance of teamwork, adaptability, and continuous learning. Radu's approach to life serves as a reminder that success and fulfillment often lie in spontaneity. As Radu continues to navigate his journey with a spirit of discovery and enthusiasm, he inspires others to embrace their paths, however unconventional they may be.
