Introduction

On January 2015, a day I remember clear as day, I walked into my first Computer Science class with no idea what to expect. Little did I know, that day would change my life forever. We started with Visual Basic Studio, a tool that allowed us to create simple computer applications using its graphical user interface (GUI). It wasn’t just about writing code—it was about building something tangible, something I could see and interact with.

The First Project: A Simple Greeting App

One of the first programs I created was a small app where you could type your name into a text box, click a button, and see a personalized greeting pop up on the screen. I remember dragging and dropping buttons and text boxes onto the form in the Visual Basic designer, connecting everything with just a few lines of code.

When I ran the program for the first time and saw it work—when it greeted me with “Hello Samuel”—I was completely hooked.

Here’s an example of the kind of code I worked on back then:

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub btnGreet_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnGreet.Click
        Dim name As String = txtName.Text
        MessageBox.Show("Hello " & name & "!")
    End Sub
End Class

This little snippet shows how simple yet powerful Visual Basic was for a beginner like me. The txtName control allowed users to type their name, and when they clicked the btnGreet button, the program displayed a friendly message in a pop-up box. It was magical—like giving life to an idea.

Discovering My Passion for Coding

That moment was when I knew: this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It felt like meeting your soulmate—you just know. For me, that soulmate wasn’t a person; it was coding. The ability to create something out of nothing, to solve problems and build tools that could make life easier or more fun—it was exhilarating.

A New Curiosity: How Are Games Made?

As I delved deeper into programming, I began to wonder how some of my favorite childhood games were made. Games like Pokémon captivated me with their intricate worlds and engaging mechanics. How did developers bring those vibrant creatures and expansive adventures to life? My curiosity about game development grew as I learned more about coding.

The story behind Pokémon’s creation fascinated me. It took six years for Game Freak to develop the original games, with Satoshi Tajiri and his team overcoming numerous challenges along the way. They had to figure out everything from graphics to gameplay mechanics while working closely with Nintendo. The idea of trading Pokémon between players using link cables added a unique social element that made the experience even more compelling.

Conclusion: The Journey Ahead

Reflecting on my journey now, it’s incredible to think how something so simple—a small app that said “Hello”—could ignite such a profound love for coding and game development. But that’s the beauty of programming: even the smallest creations can have the biggest impact.

As I continue my journey in tech, I look forward to exploring new languages, building more complex applications, and perhaps one day creating games that inspire others just as Pokémon inspired me.

This version includes additional vertical line spacing between sections for improved readability and visual appeal.