Rizki Citra, Frontend Software Engineer Passionate Frontend Software Engineer. Crafting Delightful User Interfaces.

New Challenges, New Opportunities, and University Graduation

In late 2023, I began exploring new interests in crypto, web3, and cryptocurrency trading. I reached out to a friend who had been working in this field for years to learn how things worked and expand my knowledge into these emerging areas. By February 2024, I decided to resign from Skyshi Digital Indonesia to pursue new opportunities.

Coincidentally, the next day, a friend introduced me to Bitwyre , a company specializing in cryptocurrency, web3, and crypto trading. I applied immediately, went through interviews with their CTO and CEO, and was accepted as a Software Engineer (Frontend) on their Engineering team. It was fascinating how an area of personal interest became the field I now work in professionally.

My first few months at Bitwyre involved adapting to a vastly different company culture. As a diverse organization with employees from around the world—Canada, America, India, Europe, and more—it was a unique environment. Despite English being my third language, it didn't hinder collaboration across continents.

In August 2024, the company attended Coinfest Asia , a crypto/web3 event in Bali. Alongside the Engineering team, I joined the trip, combining work with a week-long stay that included a small internal hackathon at a villa. The event provided valuable connections, insights, and experiences, further solidifying my adaptability to the fast-paced crypto world.

By late 2024, I graduated from university, marking the end of a three-year journey. While the institution I attended may not compare in size or prestige to larger universities like Gadjah Mada or the University of Indonesia, the experience I gained was invaluable. Time flew by, and though the academic environment wasn’t overwhelming, it gave me the foundation to grow. This milestone reinforced my readiness to continue advancing in both my career and personal pursuits.

Maintaining Work-Life Balance

In 2023, I continued working as a Frontend Developer at Skyshi Digital Indonesia. One of my notable projects was building moladinfinance.com for Moladin, which I completed in just around 5 weeks. Afterward, I was assigned to other confidential projects bound by NDAs, further expanding my experience in handling diverse challenges.

I then started rebuilding my custom PC, upgrading it piece by piece from my previous build while keeping costs low. After a year without a PC, I was excited to return to a more comfortable programming setup, with a larger screen and better ergonomics compared to my laptop.

Throughout this period, I maintained a balance between my full-time job and university studies. I also took on freelance work with a friend through Facebook, completing projects within three months without conflicts or interruptions to my primary responsibilities. The freelance experience added another layer to my skill set and reinforced my ability to manage multiple commitments effectively.

Looking back, I'm surprised by how much I achieved during this time—balancing work, studies, and personal projects. Despite the challenges, I remained focused on improving my expertise in software engineering, knowing that continuous learning is key to growth in this field.

First Internship and Full-Time Work

In late December 2021, I was accepted as an intern at Skyshi Digital Indonesia, a software company based in Gamping, Yogyakarta. The internship began in early 2022, with the team working remotely due to the pandemic—a setup the company decided to maintain for operational efficiency. My first few weeks were challenging, as I had no prior professional experience, but I quickly adapted to the company's culture and workflow. I was assigned to contribute to gethired.id, an internal project designed to help users practice and enhance their skills to secure jobs, similar to an online course platform.

After three months of interning, I was hired as a Full-Time Frontend Developer. My role shifted to working on external projects, some of which were bound by NDAs. Over the course of my first year in this position, I contributed to multiple projects, further honing my technical skills and gaining valuable industry experience. The transition from intern to full-time developer marked a significant step in my professional growth.

By late 2022 and into 2023, I maintained a balance between my university studies and my full-time role. This period was marked by steady progress, both academically and professionally, as I continued to refine my expertise as a Frontend Developer while managing the demands of work and education.

Starting University

Early 2021 marked the beginning of my journey into software development. With the world still under pandemic restrictions, I focused on learning the fundamentals of web development—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—through self-study and online resources. By May, I realized that while I was gaining technical knowledge, my lack of formal experience made it difficult to secure a job. To address this, I decided to pursue formal education and began applying to universities offering free admission programs due to financial constraints. During this time, I sold my custom PC and bought a new, affordable laptop to accommodate my needs while moving in and out of different places.

By late 2021, my efforts paid off when I was accepted into an Associate Degree program for Informatics Management. This marked a turning point in my journey, as it provided structure and opportunities to complement my self-taught skills. Throughout the year, I continued practicing coding and working on small projects to refine my abilities, ensuring I stayed sharp while balancing the transition to formal education. It was a year of growth, discipline, and laying the foundation for my career as a Frontend Software Engineer.

Pandemic Continue

It's been a year since the start of the pandemic. I've been studying from home for the past year.

I'm in my last year of high school, and I've decided to start earning some money by taking on freelance jobs in my local village.

By the middle of 2020, I had saved up enough money to buy computer parts. Some PC parts cost too much for me, so I buy them one at a time.

The goal isn't clear yet, but like any other teenager, I spent most of my time playing video games on my PC, like Minecraft and CS:GO.

The Pandemic Breakout

I was in the second year of high school when the pandemic began. I can't recall much, but I've been studying from home ever since.