Nevena Pancic

New beginnings have always been a source of inspiration for me. My life, like a patchwork quilt, is stitched together with unexpected turns and vibrant colors. My first chapter began in Belgrade, where I taught biology at a high school after earning my Biology bachelors degree. I didn't just teach cells or evolution–I also taught life lessons, reminding my students that the real learning happens after the bell rings. While teaching gave me immense pleasure, curiosity always pushed me to try something new.

After hours in the classroom, I would return home to my sewing machine to build my own slow-fashion brand, Kalas, named after my beloved childhood dog. Using leftover materials, I created scrunchies, scarves, and bags, giving forgotten fabrics a second chance, just as my journey was about second chances.

However, life called for another leap. With a bag full of dreams, I moved to Amsterdam for a second master’s degree. Despite three degrees, my nationality became a barrier in job applications, leaving me disheartened and disappointed in how the world works. It was a tough period. To make ends meet, I worked in a restaurant, climbing the ranks from crew member to manager. But the job was draining me. I was waking up every morning unmotivated, longing for something that truly ignited my passion. And then, I found coding. What began as a curiosity turned into an obsession. The idea that a few lines of code could create something alive, something functional, fascinated me. Coding was like solving a puzzle—logical yet creative, challenging yet rewarding. It just clicked.

I threw myself into the world of tech, joining a bootcamp and later becoming a teacher myself. Guiding aspiring developers ignited a new passion, but I wasn’t done growing. I stepped into the role of a freelance developer, juggling clients, projects, and endless learning. For the first time, I felt like I’d found my purpose and a career I want to pursue for my life.

After some time I realised I would like to settle down. I wanted stability and growth—a place where I could learn, be challenged, and thrive. I wanted to be surrounded by likeminded people everyday, that I can learn from, that I can share my ideas with and grow. I applied for Miyagami as an office manager, because there were no open positions for developers at that time, with an idea that I will sneak around and learn while developers are working, and be in a stimulating environment. Dale, sent me a tech case study to complete so that I can sometimes part time code too. I loved it! I got a chance! I did my best to complete the challenge as much as I could in a short period of time and came for an interview with deploying the app just before leaving the house.

Just 10 minutes after the interview, Dale called me and told me I am getting an offer for a Junior Full Stack Developer position. I couldn’t believe it, I had to stop cycling for a second and accept the information. Hey that small Serbian girl, who was fighting her way to survive since she came to The Netherlands was finally given a chance to prove, to grow, to learn, she was given a purpose and she was finally not looked at as a ‘visa applicant’ but as a person.

Today is Monday, and I work as a Full-Stack Web Developer at Miyagami, a workplace that saw me for my skills and ambitions. It’s a place where my ideas are valued, my growth is supported, and my passion is celebrated. Now waking up and going to work is not a struggle, now I am looking forward to Mondays, looking forward to coming back to smiling faces of my colleagues and to my colorful code lines. I feel I got the chance I was waiting for so long, I found my place, my passion and my career- and I would never stop being grateful to Miyagami for it.