Hello, I'm Thomas

Portrait of Thomas Daskalakis.

About Me

Early Days

I was born and raised in Nea Alikarnassos, a suburb in the east of Heraklion, Crete. As a teenager, I was always with a keyboard in my hands when I wasn't playing the guitar. My love for computers led me to pursue a degree in Mathematics at the University of Crete. It wasn't until late 2020 that I began considering programming as a career. I started by exploring game development and then branched out into various other aspects of programming.

In 2011, I started my Mathematics degree at the University of Crete. However, the economic crisis in Greece made things challenging. I had to take on various jobs to support myself, which left me with less time to focus on my studies. Balancing work and university was tough, and it often felt like I was stuck in a cycle of working for low pay while falling behind academically.

This period also took a toll on my mental health, and I struggled with depression. Despite this, the experience taught me resilience and eventually pushed me in a new direction. It led me to web development, where I've been able to focus my energy and grow.

Career & Education Timeline

In late 2020, I began taking programming seriously, focusing on game development at first before exploring other areas of software development. My journey deepened during my studies at the University of Crete, where I completed courses such as "Introduction to AI," "Intro to CS: C, Unix, Git," "OOP with Java," and "Development and Analysis of Algorithms." These courses provided me with a solid foundation in computer science and sparked my interest in web development.

By July 2022, I shifted my focus to web development, learning everything on my own through online resources, projects, and tutorials. After several months of dedicated learning, I started applying for front-end developer positions. In February 2023, I had my first interviews, and by March 2023, I landed my first job as a front-end developer.

Since then, I've remained committed to growing as a web developer, continuously learning new technologies and improving my skills. I stay up-to-date with the latest trends and enjoy working on both personal and professional projects that challenge me to keep growing.