My journey started out of boredom from being a developer.

I’ve always loved computers, so I started coding at a young age. At first, it was magic. Everything felt new, and having friends who shared the same passion made learning incredible.

But as I grew older, the magic faded. Coding became routine. I wasn't enjoying it anymore, at least, not the way I used to. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew it had to involve computers.

That’s when I started looking at the security side of things.

To me, the idea of being a "hacker" felt impossible. In my head, being a legal, professional hacker was a myth, or something reserved for a chosen few. That mentality convinced me that trying to become one was a waste of time.

Until one day, I got tired of waiting around for something to happen. I decided to learn as much as I could, just to see if it sparked anything.

The more I learned, the more the passion returned. So, I committed to it.

The Turning Point

I quickly realized that hacking isn't something you can easily teach. It’s a unique skill built on experience, trial, and error.

Mentors can guide you, but they can't walk the path for you. You have to find it yourself. Most of the time, the difference between you and the hacker you look up to isn't a secret tool or a hidden technique, it’s just the amount of effort and discipline they put in.

I learned this firsthand. I remember watching NahamSec doing that massive collaboration with Netflix. Even though I was still finding my footing, I decided to jump in and hunt.

That decision led to the biggest moment of my early career: earning my first bounty by finding a critical vulnerability that earned me a $25,000 bounty.

That find validated everything. It proved that there is no "secret sauce." I didn't have special access; I just had the persistence to look where others hadn't.

More than connections, friendships.

I'm amazed by how many incredible people I've met and become friends with through Bug Bounty.

There is nothing wrong with "networking," but something even better is finding actual friendship with people who share your obsession.

I am forever grateful for all of the great friends I made, special thanks to @busfactor and @rafabyte. I met them shortly before DEFCON, and from the start, they motivated me to work hard, have fun, and put myself out there.

Putting yourself out there is hard. I was nervous about meeting people at DEFCON. I had these worrying thoughts of "Do I really fit in with them?" or "What if they ask me something I don't know?"

You know, the classic impostor syndrome.

Over time, I realized that not having an answer is far less damaging than not being willing to search for it. Just like hacking, it's not about being smart, but curious. Every successful hacker was once the one asking the "dumb" questions.

I am really glad I got over that fear. The people we meet are the ones that make it all worth it.

Finally Home

Hacking brings me the joy I've searched for in a long time.

It can be hard sometimes, but the great friends you make along the journey make it easy keep going and have fun. After all, that's what it's all about.

I'm excited to see where it leads.