LOH Contenst # 302 - From Belly Dancer to Software Engineer: The Plot Twists of Me
Published on HivePostify by @dimante · Mon Aug 17 2026
When I sat down to answer these two questions, I did not expect them to turn into a little trip down memory lane. But here we are, so let me take you along 💜
Who in my family am I most like, and why?
Growing up, I was my father's daughter through and through. I had his free spirit, his love for outings, and his talent for turning complete strangers into friends within minutes. My dad worked in politics, so he knew absolutely everyone, our town, the next town, and probably a few towns after that. By the time I reached university, I had basically become a small copy of him: always helping people, always knowing people, and making decisions in about two seconds flat with zero thinking involved. A talent that is far less charming in real life than it sounds, trust me hahah.
I inherited his looks too. His wide black eyes, his dark black hair, and enough of his face that people recognize me as his daughter the moment they see me. There is really no hiding it.
Then, with time, something funny happened. I slowly started turning into my mother. And lucky me, because she was a wonderful one. Calmer, happiest with a small circle around her, someone who takes her time before deciding anything and treasures her peace above all. Somewhere along the way I quietly traded my father's "decide now, think never" for her "let me sleep on it."
The one thing my mom and I truly share? Neither of us ever ended up in the career we dreamed of. Although, in my defense, mine was never exactly realistic...
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What was my dream job as a kid versus the job I have today?
Oh, where do I even begin. My dream jobs went through more plot twists than a telenovela.
Between the ages of zero and about nine, I was fully convinced I would become an oriental belly dancer. And honestly? I was good at it. I got praised so much as a little girl that my tiny brain decided this was clearly my destiny.
Then I discovered I had a gift for Math, and just like that, the belly dancer dream was swapped for becoming a Math Professor. That lasted right up until Biology walked into my life, and like every child who has ever held a toy stethoscope, I decided I would be a doctor.
So naturally, I grew up to become... a software engineer. hahah.
Here is how that happened. During university orientation I got very practical very fast. I told myself I needed something that would land me a job quickly, with less competition, and that was actually affordable, because medical school tuition in my country was simply out of reach. So I settled on graphic design, since I loved designing (and still do!). A beautiful plan, except my major coordinator took one look and gently informed me that I could not, in fact, draw. So I pivoted to computer science, and that is where I finally landed.
Looking back, I truly believe God arranged every one of those little detours to put me exactly where I am now. I graduated with Distinction, got my first job even before finishing my degree, and met my husband along the way, who studied and worked in the very same field.
And the story continues, because our three kids are all little tech geeks today. The best part? Our youngest, who is five, proudly tells his friends that when he grows up he wants to work in crypto 😂 So it seems the family trait has officially been passed down.
From belly dancer to software engineer, it was quite the journey, and I would not change a single plot twist 💜
Cover image generated by me using [Gemini]
Tags: #ladiesofhive#life#story#family#dreams#technology#crypto#blog