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blog/content/posts/its-a-me-mario/index.md

@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@ hideBackToTop: false
 
 I was born in [Caicó](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caic%C3%B3), a city in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The name Caicó originates from the [indigenous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_in_Brazil) word *'Queicuó'*, which means *'Cuó river and mountain'*. The region is also known for constant **droughts and extreme poverty**.
 
-![Caico Drought](caico-drought.jpg#center)
-
 In the early 1990s, Brazil faced [significant economic challenges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Brazil#1990%E2%80%931993) in less developed areas, such as Caicó. [São Paulo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo) - being the industrial and financial center - attracted my Mama's family, which were seeking better living conditions and economic prospects. We moved to São Paulo in 1992.
 
-## 2010: How I discovered Computer Science
-Back in 2010, I was working as a SEO consultant at [Red Bricks Media](https://www.linkedin.com/company/red-bricks-media/) and getting really good at it... so good I started looking at what others were doing around the company, so that I could make my work more efficient.
+## 2011: How I discovered Computer Science
+Back in 2011, I was working as a [SEO](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide) consultant at [Red Bricks Media](https://www.linkedin.com/company/red-bricks-media/) and getting really good at it... so good I started looking at what others were doing around the company, so that I could make my work more efficient.
+
+That's when I met [Diogo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/diogotozzi/) - a Software Engineer so passionate about Computer Science, that he would easily spend all his lunch break answering my newbie questions about how computer works, **create a course to teach me programming with PHP** and become a close friend. I was so blown away by what Diogo told me about computers back then, that I couldn't stop thinking about what I would be able to do, if I became a Computer Scientist like himself. So I dove deep into the topic and started learning about how to build websites.
 
-That's when I met [Diogo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/diogotozzi/) - a Software Engineer so passionate about Computer Science, that he would easily spend all his lunch break answering my newbie questions about how computer works, create a course to teach me programming with PHP and become a friend. I was so blown away by what Diogo told me about computers back then, that I couldn't stop thinking about what I would be able to do, if I became a Computer Scientist like himself. So I dove deep into the topic and started learning about how to build websites.
+![Diogo Email](diogo-email.png#center)
 
 ## 2012: University (first trial)
 After a year or so studying [how to think like a Computer Scientist](https://openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english3e/) ~~on my employers computers~~, I decided it was the career I wanted to pursue. So I enrolled into [Computer Science at Universidade Anhembi Morumbi](https://portal.anhembi.br/graduacao/ciencia-da-computacao/).
@@ -41,21 +41,19 @@ Investing in a computer as a 22 year old me was... challenging. I was married, l
 It was a Samsung Laptop running ~~Windows~~ **Linux** (thanks to [Erik](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhenrique/) for the *influence*) - which was the perfect fit for me, given I was hungry to learn everything about computers.
 
 ### Finding an internship
-#### First Attempt: Failed
+#### 1st Attempt: Failed
 Back then, I didn't know how to build connections with people, so I always used a direct approach. First I asked the course coordinator for instructions on how to find a internship.
 > Hey Mario. You're here only for 4 months. It's your first semester. You need to wait at least until your 4th semester to apply for internships. You won't find anything until then. Have patience.
 
-This is probably true for "most people" that ask this question, but we're talking about me, and when I want something, I get it done.
-
-#### Second Attempt: Skipped
-After that terrible conversation, I pulled a list of ALL tech startups in São Paulo and sent an email to them introducing myself and asking for an internship. In return, they would have a chance to pay me less than what the market pays, because I'd be forever grateful for the opportunity.
+#### 2nd Attempt: Skipped
+After that terrible conversation, I pulled a list of ALL tech startups in São Paulo and sent an email to them introducing myself and asking for an internship. In return, they would have a chance to pay me less than what the market pays, because I'd be forever grateful for the opportunity and work really hard.
 
-A lot of them replied. Some of them didn't have an open role, but they still wanted to let me know my behavior was awesome. I did get into few interviews, but declined the ones I passed, simply because they were not aligned with what I wanted to do (ie. not .NET, not banks, etc.).
+A lot of them replied. Some of them didn't have an open role, but they still wanted to let me know my behavior was awesome. I did get into few interviews, but declined, because they were not aligned with my values and goals.
 
-#### Third Attempt: Succeeded!
-I said I didn't know how to build connections with everyone, but I knew how to make them laugh, and I made [Daniel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielfilho/) laugh hard many times. So I asked him to recommend me to [iG](https://www.linkedin.com/company/portalig/) for an internship.
+#### 3rd Attempt: Succeeded!
+I said I didn't know how to build connections with everyone, but I knew how to make them laugh, and I made [Daniel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielfilho/) laugh hard many times. So I asked him to recommend me to [iG](https://www.linkedin.com/company/portalig/) for an internship. Which he did. I and other two class mates from uni passed the interview and we worked as a team. Let's go!
 
 ## 2013: Internship
-I left my stable paying SEO job to work as an intern in a field I wasn't familiar with yet. As a result, I didn't have money to pay for uni anymore. In fact, I wouldn't have cashflow to pay for my bills in 6 months. Interestingly enough, that's the timeline for a internship, so I worked REALLY hard to get promoted to a full-time role. And thanks to the shockingly empowerment I received from everyone at iG, I not only got a full-time role, but I also transitioned to BE (something I learned I prefered) and then got a huge pay bump.
+I left my stable paying SEO job to work as an intern in a field I wasn't familiar with yet. The moment I did that, I started to use my savings to pay for my uni. In fact, I wouldn't have cashflow to pay for my bills in 6 months. Interestingly enough, that's the timeline for a internship, so I worked really hard to get promoted to a full-time role. And thanks to the shockingly empowerment I received from everyone at iG, I not only got a full-time role, but I also transitioned to BE (something I learned I prefered) and then got a huge pay bump.
 
 My time at iG was one of the most enjoyable experiences at work I've ever had. I will talk more about this in the future, but for now, I'll just say that it was amazing.