Between Lines of Code and Decisions
Well, let’s say this blog could start by telling you who I am. My name is Cristian Asprilla, I was born and raised in La Palma de Darién, Panama. I come from a humble family, but with something worth more than any fortune: the unconditional support of my mom and dad, who always gave me everything they could.
My First Steps in Computing
My love for computing started in a very simple way. When Christmas time came around, I would travel to Panama City to stay at my older sister’s house. She had a desktop computer, and for me that was the ultimate. I remember the excitement of arriving just to “tinker” with the computer: browsing the internet, discovering new things, downloading music and games on Ares, and filling the system with viruses without meaning to—but happily.
Back then I used Windows 7 and Internet Explorer. I discovered artists like Wiz Khalifa, even though I didn’t understand a single word he was saying. Those were different times, with websites like El Rincón del Vago and programs that are history today. But that’s where it all began.
The Path of a Computing High School Student
Thanks to that curiosity, when the time came to choose my high school major, I was clear that I wanted to study computing. Many expected me to go into sciences—I was always a good student—but something inside me told me I should follow my instinct.
That’s when someone key appeared in my story: Professor Rosa Robles. She introduced me to a new world. One day, while I was at home—I remember I was near a mango tree—she called me to tell me about a competition: RoboCup Junior. That call changed my life.
RoboCup Junior and the Awakening of Purpose
I accepted to participate, and from that moment my love for computing became stronger. Thanks to Professor Rosa I met incredible people, traveled for the first time to Ciudad del Saber, and participated in several editions of RoboCup Junior.
I was lucky to have a partner who became almost like a brother to me. We would stay up all night working together, learning, failing, and trying again. Thanks to my professor’s dedication and my school’s support, we managed to qualify for regionals and nationals, and we even helped bring the regionals to Darién for the first time.
Not everything was easy: I lost entire projects due to technical failures (once my sister’s old laptop turned off and I lost all the code). But the most important thing wasn’t lost: the desire to keep going.
Against Expectations and In Favor of the Dream
My dad wanted me to become a police officer. And although I respect that profession, I felt it wasn’t my path. I had worked hard on my studies and wanted to keep growing in the technology field.
I took the exam for the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP) and passed it. It was enormous joy, because I knew what it had cost. I wanted to study abroad, but scholarship processes weren’t always easy. I wrote many emails, looked for opportunities, and although they didn’t always respond, I never stopped trying.
University, Linux, and New Horizons
At UTP I studied Information Systems Engineering. From early on I liked Linux: I installed Kali Linux on the computer they gave me at school through “MEDUCA” and started getting interested in computer security. Over time, that interest transformed into something bigger: data science. I participated in hackathons, learned about AWS, used Google Maps API, and solved real problems. I had good friends, tough moments, and lessons I still value.
The Dream of Studying Abroad
I finally applied for a SENACYT scholarship. They called me for an interview. I perfectly remember the moment I saw my name among the selected ones. I jumped for joy. I was with my mom, I still remember.
It wasn’t easy to find guarantors (people who back the scholarship in case of abandonment), but finally my dad was one of them, and another person—a stranger who believed in me—was the second. I owe both of them a lot.
Thanks to that scholarship I went to study in Canada, at Ontario Tech University, where I graduated in Computer Science with a specialization in Data Science and a minor in Mathematics. It wasn’t an easy path: being away from my family was hard, and not everything went perfectly, but I achieved it.
Gratitude, Family, and Purpose
When I graduated this year (2025), I reviewed my old emails: the messages I had sent looking for opportunities, scholarships, help. I cried. I cried with pride, gratitude, relief. Because I saw that each email was a seed of what I am today.
I can’t forget my family—my mom, my sister, my “little sis”—. They have always been my foundation, my engine, and my inspiration. Also to the people who believed in me, even without any blood relation. To all of them: thank you.
A Piece of Advice for Whoever Reads This
If you’re reading this, maybe out of curiosity, or because you identify with it. Either way, I want to leave you with something clear: fight for your dreams.
Having a north star changes everything. Sometimes the path will divert you, sometimes it will seem like you’re going in circles without getting anywhere. But if you maintain your course, sooner or later you’ll reach solid ground.
I wanted to study at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and ended up graduating in Canada. Destiny moved me, but the north star was the same: to learn, to grow, and not to give up.
Epilogue
Today I work at what I love. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring—no one does—but I have my course clear. And this blog is, in part, my way of recording that journey. Maybe no one will read it, or maybe someone will. But at least my story will remain here. Between lines of code and decisions.