In 1988, at the bustling WW Grainger warehouse in Houston, I, a 19-year-old white man with a GED and dreams larger than my IBM XT computer, found my life's trajectory altered in the most unexpected way. Amid the chaos of a crowded day, I was summoned from the warehouse to assist with the will-call line, a task that would serendipitously lead me to cross paths with a Mexican American gentleman whose impact on my life would be profound and lasting.
As I handed him his order, we discovered a mistake – he had received the wrong item. Protocol demanded that I send him to the end of the sales counter to reorder, but something in me chose a different path. I swiftly keyed in a new order, darted into the warehouse to retrieve the correct item, and returned to complete the transaction. This act of initiative did not go unnoticed. He left me his contact details, scribbled on the order sheet, along with an invitation to call him.
True to his word, upon my call, he offered me a job, one that was monumental for a young man of my background and experience. The role entailed designing and developing a custom Material Test Report system and a complex Sales Pricing System tailored for the fastener industry. The challenge was formidable: I was to set up a Novell file server, configure all workstations, and write multi-user programs. This was 1988 – a time when Microsoft DOS reigned supreme, and Windows was yet to become a functional operating system. My tools were Quick Basic PDS 7.1, Macro Assembler, and dBase 3 Plus for database management. Crafting a multi-user program in DOS meant intricately locking and unlocking files and records manually – a daunting task that required significant coding prowess.
What made this opportunity extraordinary was not just the complexity of the tasks but the trust and freedom I was given. Over the next four years, he supported my pursuit of further education, allowing me to take networking classes while gaining invaluable on-the-job experience. This blend of learning and practical application was instrumental in shaping my professional identity.
For a young man with only a GED and a rudimentary computer, this chance was monumental. It wasn't just a job; it was a mentorship, a gateway to a world I longed to be part of. The skills I honed and the knowledge I acquired during those years laid the foundation for my subsequent 23-year career as a computer programmer.
Reflecting on this journey, I recognize the pivotal role that chance encounter played. It was more than a meeting; it was a testament to the power of opportunity and the impact of someone believing in your potential. This experience shaped not only my professional path but also my worldview, teaching me the importance of giving chances, fostering growth, and believing in the capabilities of those who come from less traditional backgrounds.
In a world where opportunities are often tied to credentials, my story is a reminder of the potential that lies in taking chances on people, nurturing their growth, and the transformative power of mentorship. As I look back on that day in 1988, I am filled with gratitude for the Mexican American man who saw beyond my resume and offered me a chance to shape my future. His faith in me has been a guiding force in my life, a reminder that sometimes, the most significant opportunities come from the most unexpected places.
JT Bakken