I’ve been immersed in technology since childhood. Today, most people interact with computers through interfaces like Windows, macOS, or mobile platforms. But back then, having a computer at home was rare, and using one meant digging beneath the surface.

At age 10, I learned Color BASIC and 6809 Assembly on a Radio Shack TRS-80 CoCo. Computer magazines at the time published program listings that you could type in line by line. It was a hands-on, trial-and-error process that taught patience, precision, and problem-solving. Early personal computers were sold as mail-order DIY kits, paving the way for later pre-assembled consumer models like the one I had. In high school electronics class, we learned to disassemble and reassemble a Radio Shack TRS-80 using a soldering iron, giving us a taste of that earlier era of computer assembly. Those early experiences shaped how I would use and understand computers in the years to come.

I was online when that meant dialing into bulletin board systems with a 1200 baud modem. That early online world taught me a lot about altruism and generosity. People freely shared their time, knowledge, and resources. They were driven by a shared passion rather than personal gain. It was a time and space where helping others was the norm, and community mattered more than formal training.

That spirit of generosity stayed with me. I’ve always believed in helping others and sharing what I know. But over time, I learned that generosity without boundaries can be mistaken for availability without value. I chose not to pursue a career in computers after realizing that people often wanted the benefit of my expertise without offering the respect or compensation it deserved.