The sci-fic movie shown my way.

I remember it was 1999 I was in grade 11 (two years before finishing High school). At lunch time I watched original Matrix movie. I saw a guy in a dark room with a bunch of monitors in front of him, they all hoked to a super computer with messy cables. That moment, I called it "Super Cool, and I like to work in that environment for the rest of my life."

Few months later, I brought a computer class poster to my dad, asked him to take computer course. Surprisingly, my dad allowed me to take a basic computer class (Win 97 and a bunch of legacy application programs). Non of those programs made me proud, because I still think that "It is not want to I expect to learn".

Until one day, a guy came from no-where type a command prompt (DOS), edit file AUTOEXEC.BAT to scan computer every time it reboot. At that time, I have no idea what it is? It is just a black screen with white letter.
"What are you doing bro.?" I asked.
"It is an advance stuff, you don't understand it." He replied.
"Okey, Baster!" I didn't say it out, just whisper in mine.

At the end of 1999, I found a place where they provide a Ms DOS and Norton Commander class. I toke that class for about two months. I could do a lot of stuff with file and directory management. Plus, I know how to change text color in Ms DOS. From that time, I start loving to write programming. Actually the command line in Batch file is not a real programming language, but a scripting language.

Soon later, my dad bought me a Pentium III 300Mhz with 32 MB Ram and 4Gb Hard drive. It was the time graphic design is the most fun for young computer user. I really want to have Adobe Photoshop 5.0 installed in my computer.
"How much will you charge to install Photoshop in my machine?" I asked my x-computer-teacher.
"It is very expensive, you won't have enough money." He replied.
"Okey, Baster!" I didn't say it out, just whisper in mine for the second time.

Few days later, I asked my dad to travel to capital city (291 Km) to buy some software programs. It was a crazy idea, because I didn't know how to install program. Stupidly, I broke my computer operating system. My dad was wondering why I did not use computer for a week, since I always seat in front of it all day and night. He did not know that I broke my computer, I didn't tell him too because he didn't ask.

And then I decided to ask my dad to take a computer technician class, so that I can repair my computer back to life. Two weeks after, I know how to install Windows and program. Can you believe it? I still remember serial number of Windows 98 second edition, It is a combination of 25 characters and digits.

In year 2000, I finished my High School. Surely, I go to University and take Computer Science as my major. I dreamed one day, I will have a chance to work for the most successful software company.

In September 2009, my dream came true. I got an offer to work as a contractor in Microsoft Research.

Thank for reading my story.

.Tola Chhoeun.