Who is Digo?
This is not a simple "About Me" page. It's an unfiltered collection of memories, chords, sports, and some funny situations that brought me here. Grab a coffee, press play on the soundtrack, and enjoy the journey.
The Mischievous and Curious Child
If you see me focused on VS Code today, you might not imagine that my journey began by taking things apart as a child. I was that kid who liked to see what was inside things, and it wasn't long before I started disassembling and reassembling toys, computers, video games, and even a fan (which never worked again).
Raised on a farm, one of my most unforgettable (and perhaps hilarious) moments was when my parents raised pigs in the backyard, and I, with all my genius, decided to grab a piglet and take it to show my dad. The result? The little pig got so scared it started screaming and its mother ran after me (spoiler: she bit me, and that's the reason for the scar on my chin).
Mathematics and School
In childhood, I confess I didn't like studying, but besides taking things apart, I also had a curiosity for numbers. Mathematics was one of my favorite subjects, and I loved solving problems and challenges, which led me to participate in knowledge competitions in the region, where I won some awards.
My first medal was related to this!
My First Sport: Football (Soccer)
My relationship with sports began early, and curiously, with football, thanks to my dad, who took me to the games of the team he coached.
Pre-game team huddle.
The Martial Arts: Kung Fu
During my childhood, I had the opportunity to practice my first martial art in a project at my school at the time. That's where I got to know Kung Fu.
The brief experience with Kung Fu taught me discipline, focus, and the importance of doing everything with excellence (or at least trying). It was an incredible experience that deeply marked me, and to this day I carry some teachings from that time.
The Martial Arts: Muay Thai
In my pre-adolescence, I had the opportunity to practice another martial art, Muay Thai, in a social project at a local church in my city.
Over time, I became one of the most dedicated students and received a scholarship from Professor Júnior Shaolin to train at his gym.
The Day They Threw Me a Surprise Party at School
I never gave much significance to my birthdays, but one day, still during my middle school years, my friends got together, without me knowing anything, and threw me a surprise birthday party at school.
It was such a remarkable moment that even today, when I remember, I feel very grateful to have such incredible friends. And of course, the party was amazing, complete with cake, brigadeiros, and lots of fun. Special thanks to my 9th-grade class, who made that day so special for me.
My Middle School Graduation
And perhaps the most awaited moment for children came for me: graduation. And with all certainty, it was one of the most rewarding things I've ever experienced. Together with some teachers, we organized fairs, raffles, and other activities to raise funds for the graduation party.
When the big day arrived, it was simply incredible. Thanks to teacher Paulo Bernardo, I wrote my first excerpts of a book, which was also written by each of my classmates, printed, and given to each of us as a memento of this important phase. And of course, the party was amazing.
I Was Accepted to High School and Technical Course at Etec!
My First Embedded Systems Classes
A record of the day we had a challenge to build a traffic light circuit using Arduino.
My First Day of Class at ETEC
I remember arriving, and everything was new: new teachers, new classmates, new classrooms and laboratories. Everything was magical!
My First Written Codes
Here began my journey with code. Everything was very ambiguous and new for a 15-year-old boy. It was a process of trial and error, but every line of code written was a small victory.
My First Programming Exams
And the exams were like this, with a bunch of handwritten codes, and me trying to understand what was happening. It was a challenge, but also part of the set of triggers for my love of programming.
First Chords
During the COVID-19 pandemic, spending months at home, the curiosity to learn new things arose again. Among them, playing musical instruments. And that's how I started learning guitar and ukulele.
A record of the day of my first performance playing guitar in the choir I participated in at Etec.
The Martial Arts: Jiu-Jitsu
Here began my relationship with Jiu-Jitsu, which is the sport that marked me the most and taught me the most throughout my life. I started practicing as a hobby, but in less than a month, my professor, Huelder Motta, already signed me up to compete. Unexpectedly, I was champion in all the championships I fought as a white belt. That's when it all began.
Being an atypical case, I was promoted to blue belt in 3 months, even without really knowing what I was doing. Even so, I kept improving, winning the competitions I participated in, and soon I started receiving sponsorships, scholarships, and invitations to train at other academies.
In the photo, Maria Eduarda Ayres, Leona do Nascimento, and me, developing the project for the final Hackathon presentation.
1st Inovagro Congress & Bruto Hacka
Without any shadow of a doubt, this was definitely the turning point for choosing my career. It was the first time I participated in a hackathon, and amidst so many uncertainties, nervousness, and inexperience, it was here that I realized I was truly on the right path. I saw that I could really solve real society problems by doing what I loved, even with little experience at the time.
First Newspaper Feature
The Beginning of a Legacy
A record of the day of my first newspaper feature, where one of my first Jiu-Jitsu titles was documented.
Magazine Appearances
I've always been a very shy person. Exposing myself as a model in adolescence was one of the ways I found to overcome this. Unexpectedly, I received some awards, some contracts, and gradually I lost my fear of the public.
First TV Appearance
Throughout various events, I had the opportunity to appear on television programs.
First University Acceptance
And one of the most demanding moments in a high school student's life arrived: choosing a college. And for me, it was a very difficult process, full of doubts and uncertainties. At the time, I had been accepted into several universities, but I ended up choosing to study Computer Science at UTFPR.
Obviously, everything was magical: the joy of passing, the anxiety of starting, the change of state, the expectation of what college would be like. All of this was a mix of emotions that, when I see others going through it, reminds me of how it was for me, and I feel genuinely happy.
Ideathon FAEP/SENAR System
Already in college, but still in the context of technical education, I had the opportunity to participate in the Ideathon of the FAEP/SENAR System, a hackathon where I was able to develop, in a group, a business model for the agricultural sector.
Receiving the award from Ricardo Ost and Jefrey Kleine Albers