Introduction
Greetings, I’m Paul Clark, a Cloud Engineer, and I’m here to share my remarkable journey from a complete junior to a confident and proficient cloud engineer in just six months.
Not too long ago, I embarked on a journey that would forever alter the course of my career. It all began in September of 2022 when I stepped into the world of cloud engineering as a junior engineer. A realm that initially felt as mysterious and uncharted as the vast expanse of the sky itself.
This adventure was marked by excitement, a few stumbles, and numerous “Eureka!” moments. In this article, I invite you to accompany me on a journey through my experiences, one that will not only entertain and inspire but also offer you a profound glimpse into the captivating world of cloud engineering.
So, get ready to explore how I transitioned from a junior cloud engineer to a proficient cloud engineer in a mere six months. Along the way, we’ll touch on pivotal moments, key milestones, and invaluable lessons that have defined my path. Whether you’re just starting your cloud engineering adventure or have been navigating the clouds for years, there’s something here for everyone. Buckle up, because the cloud awaits, and the possibilities are endless.
Where It All Began
Before receiving my first job offer as a junior cloud engineer in September of 2022, there was a period of preparation and self-discovery. It’s a phase worth sharing because it lays the foundation for my transformation from a junior to a proficient cloud engineer.
Prior to starting on this cloud engineering path, I actually worked on an assembly line for one of the top car companies in the United States. However, I found that my input didn’t always correlate with my output in this job. It became clear that the role rewarded employees solely based on their length of service, rather than the effort and dedication they put in. This realization was a turning point that truly sparked my interest in the cloud, where merit and performance are recognized and valued, fueling my motivation to excel in this field.
Learning cloud engineering is akin to mastering a new language. It requires dedication to understanding the fundamentals. During this preparatory phase, I enrolled in various online courses and devoured books on cloud computing, networking, and server technologies. The courses and books I engaged with were my compass, guiding me through the clouds. The abundance of courses and learning materials available can at times feel overwhelming. I found Acloudguru to be my preferred choice because of its thorough content, engaging instructors, and active community that helped me navigate the complex world of cloud engineering.
Knowledge alone is not enough; action is the catalyst for growth. With the understanding I gained from my studies, I started experimenting with cloud technologies in virtual environments. Platforms like AWS and Google Cloud became my virtual classrooms.
I firmly believe that success is the result of consistent effort over time. In the months leading up to my entry into cloud engineering, I dedicated a significant portion of my day to studying and learning. I carved out 2–3 hours each day, rain or shine, to immerse myself in the cloud world. This commitment to daily learning allowed me to steadily accumulate knowledge and build a strong skill set. Achieving your goal of becoming a cloud engineer requires sacrifices. I traded leisure time and some social engagements for hours of study and hands-on practice. It wasn’t always easy, but I recognized that these temporary sacrifices were investments in my future. The supportive understanding of my family and friends was instrumental in sustaining my motivation during this period.
Perhaps the most profound change during this phase was my mindset. I shifted from seeing cloud engineering as an unattainable goal to viewing it as a series of challenges waiting to be conquered. The initial intimidation transformed into excitement for each new concept I encountered. I learned to embrace the inevitable setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.
Overall, this journey of self-improvement taught me a great deal about resilience and the power of consistency. I discovered that I possessed the capacity to absorb complex concepts and translate them into actionable insights. As I wrestled with challenging materials, I uncovered my tenacity and determination. I realized that the pursuit of knowledge is a marathon, not a sprint, and embracing the journey itself is as important as reaching the destination.
The Humble Beginning
Picture this: me, trying to decipher cryptic cloud jargon, feeling like I’d stumbled into a parallel universe where acronyms ruled and servers floated in the digital ether. It was like trying to read a foreign language without a dictionary, and the cloud, well, it seemed more like a fluffy white mystery than the technological wonder it truly is.
My early days were marked by hilarious mishaps that could only happen to someone just starting out in the cloud world. I remember one instance when I found myself in a head-to-head battle with session data. Hours of frustration and futile attempts to make sense of it left me feeling like I was in a never-ending loop. I was given the task to create my own Visual Studio Code server but for the life of me I could not figure out why my terminal wouldn’t keep my previous data after a simple browser refresh.
Then came the ‘Legendary smack of humbleness’ moment — my colleague/mentor with a knack for simplifying complex concepts took mere seconds to explain the intricacies of session data. All I was missing was a block of code within my terraform configuration. It was a simple block of configuration called “stickiness”. Stickiness allows the ALB (Application Load Balancer) to route requests from the same client to the same backend instance for the duration of a session.
You may be asking, “What does this even mean…”. Let me give you a quick break down. LEARNING TIME!!! 🤓
What is Stickiness?
Stickiness is like a special feature of the ALB, which is a tool used to balance the traffic going to your application. Imagine it as a smart traffic cop for your website or app.
What Does the ALB Do?
The ALB’s main job is to take incoming requests from users, like when you click on a website link or type in a web address, and decide which part of your application should handle that request. It does this to make sure that your website or app stays fast and responsive, even if lots of people are using it at the same time.
What Does “Same Client” Mean?
When we say “same client,” we mean the same person using your website or app. For example, when you’re shopping online, it’s like the ALB remembering that it’s you who’s doing the shopping and making sure your requests always go to the right place.
What Does “Backend Instance” Mean?
Think of a backend instance like a waiter at a restaurant. It’s a part of your application that’s ready to do some work when a user asks for something. These instances are like tables in a restaurant, and each table (instance) can serve a different customer (user).
What’s a “Session”?
A session is like a visit to a website or an app. When you start using a website, you usually do several things, like adding items to your shopping cart or logging in. All of these actions happen during a single session. The ALB can make sure all of your actions during this session go to the same backend instance.
Putting It All Together:
So, stickiness is a feature that helps the ALB remember who you are (the same client) and makes sure that all the things you do on a website (the session) go to the same waiter (backend instance). This makes your experience smooth, like having a dedicated waiter who knows exactly what you ordered at a restaurant.
Now back to the story…
It was as if they had handed me the keys to a previously locked treasure chest. I went from hours of confusion to crystal-clear understanding, wondering why I hadn’t sought their guidance sooner. It was a lesson not only in the importance of seeking help when needed but also in the power of concise, expert guidance in demystifying the cloud.
Every cloud engineer’s journey begins with these humble missteps. Those initial stumbles were the building blocks of my cloud education, and they provided me with stories I can now look back on and chuckle about. It’s all part of the process, and I’m here to tell you that even the most seasoned professionals will tell me they once found themselves in the same cloud of uncertainty.
Practice Practice Practice
Practice ingrains knowledge and skills into your memory, creating what can be described as “muscle memory” for your brain. Much like a marathon runner logs countless miles to build the stamina needed for a race, a cloud engineer must consistently work with cloud technologies to handle intricate setups and configurations with ease. This mental endurance and agility became invaluable when troubleshooting issues and being able to stay in a flow state.
As my skills continued to improve, an insatiable hunger for knowledge and productivity took hold of me. With each stride I made in my personal and professional growth, the desire to accomplish even more intensified. It wasn’t uncommon to catch me, on numerous occasions, lounging on my living room couch, reading documentation, absorbing every piece of information through the screen of my smartphone. This pursuit served as a testament to my unrelenting drive to excel and conquer new challenges, as every moment spent learning and honing my abilities only fueled my appetite for greater achievements.
The importance of practice in my cloud engineering journey cannot be overstated. Through countless hours of hands-on experience and experimentation, I’ve honed my abilities and developed an innate understanding of the different complex cloud technologies. This continuous practice has allowed me to tackle challenges with confidence and efficiency.
The Turning Point
Then came the pivotal moment in my journey. The company I was currently working for, true to their word, didn’t just keep me within its cozy confines. No, they had a bigger plan for me. In December of 2022 they dispatched me to partner with a client company as a junior engineer, where I took on a cloud support role. And let me tell you, this was the real deal.
Upon joining the partnering company, I embarked on a remarkable journey into the realm of platform engineering within the cloud. I found myself learning not only how to implement robust cloud platforms but also how to share my knowledge effectively with other departments.
Working day in and day out with real clients catapulted my knowledge to another level. Suddenly, I wasn’t just tackling theoretical cloud concepts; I was solving real-world challenges, addressing client concerns, and witnessing the power of cloud technology firsthand.
During these six months as a junior cloud engineer, I encountered my fair share of challenges and victories. Little did I know that March 2023 would bring a significant turning point in my career. It was in that month that I was offered the position of a cloud engineer, marking a substantial milestone in my journey. It seemed like it was just yesterday that I was spending hours trying to understand session data. Now I am working towards project delivery and contributing to the optimization and design of architectures.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on the journey that has brought me to this point. The countless hours of study, the persistence in tackling complex cloud concepts, and the dedication to honing my skills have all lead up to this remarkable achievement. Being offered the position of a cloud engineer in March 2023 was a moment of triumph that validated the sacrifices I made along the way. I see this milestone not as an endpoint but as a stepping stone to further growth and innovation. There is always more to learn, more to explore, and more to achieve in this dynamic field. I look forward to staying at the forefront of cloud engineering, contributing to its evolution, and continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible in the cloud.
Final Words of Wisdom (‘Aha’ Moments)
Going from a cloud novice to a seasoned cloud engineer is paved with ‘Aha’ moments, and they’re not just limited to the early stages of your career. Considering I am still early on in my career I have came to terms that this is just a part of the process. These epiphanies are like guiding stars that continue to light up your path, regardless of how far you’ve come in your profession.
One of the most significant aspects of a career in cloud engineering is that technology never stops evolving. ‘Aha’ moments are reminders that you’re on a perpetual learning curve. As you adapt to new tools, platforms, and methodologies, you’ll encounter these moments when you suddenly understand a previously unclear concept or see a familiar problem in a new light. Embrace them as indicators of your growth.
As you experience more ‘Aha’ moments, you’ll notice a boost in your confidence. These realizations validate your expertise and remind you of your ability to conquer technical hurdles. They reassure you that you’re on the right track and that your knowledge is growing, which can be particularly important during times of self-doubt. Embrace these moments of growth, use them to help you navigate with confidence and curiosity.
If you’re looking to get the absolute most out of your journey in cloud engineering, let me share some heartfelt advice with you:
- Find a Mentor: Seek out experienced cloud engineers who can provide guidance, share their ‘Aha’ moments, and offer valuable insights. A mentor can help you navigate the complexities of the field and accelerate your learning.
- Build Side Projects: Hands-on experience is invaluable. Create your own cloud projects or contribute to open-source projects to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
- Seek Real-World Projects: Look for opportunities to work on real-world cloud projects, either within your organization or through freelance work. Practical experience will deepen your understanding and expose you to challenges you may not encounter in tutorials or textbooks.
By taking these steps, you’ll not only embrace ‘Aha’ moments but also actively enhance your growth as a cloud engineer, ultimately navigating your career path with confidence and curiosity.
Conclusion
In my journey from a cloud enthusiast to a proficient cloud engineer, I’ve come to appreciate that the cloud computing realm is as vast and dynamic as the skies themselves.
As I look back , the ‘Aha’ moments that shed light my path, and the key milestones that shaped my expertise, one thing stands clear — cloud engineering is not just a profession; it’s a thrilling adventure. It’s a realm where continuous practice hones your skills, where ‘Eureka!’ moments validate your journey, and where every step forward brings you closer to becoming a true cloud expert.
So, whether you’re just starting your cloud engineering journey or you’ve been navigating the cloud’s endless expanse for years, remember this: embrace the ‘Aha’ moments, cherish the milestones, and never stop practicing. The horizon ahead may be cloudy, but it’s also filled with opportunities waiting to be seized, challenges eager to be conquered, and ‘Eureka!’ moments ready to be experienced.
As for me, I’m excited to see what lies beyond the next cloud. The journey continues, and the adventure is bound to be as exhilarating as ever. So, dear cloud enthusiasts, gear up, stay curious, and let your passion for cloud engineering soar to new heights. The cloud awaits, and the possibilities are endless.
Acknowledgments
In closing, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to those who have been instrumental in my cloud engineering journey.
Protagona with its amazing support and innovative approach, proved to be my guiding star, helping me navigate this ever-changing landscape. This company’s program and support were truly transformative for my career.
My colleagues and mentors, your wisdom and camaraderie have been invaluable.
To the clients and partners who entrusted me with their cloud projects, thank you for the real-world lessons.
To my family and friends, your unwavering support has meant the world.
In this vast cloud universe, it’s the people who have made the difference. Your contributions have shaped my story, and I look forward to the adventures ahead.
