The self taught-coder overcoming fears of not being good enough

Generation Why Not — An enviable CV doesn’t make you immune from feeling inadequate. Under pressure to work harder and longer, talented young coder Maxim Cramer, 25, transformed the way she lived, resulting in a healthier, happier and more productive approach to her career.

“There is so much pressure on young people today to present their lives as perfect – especially when it comes to their careers. It seems like there is always one more task you can do, one more hour you can work, and one more skill you can add to your CV.

“I enrolled on my first computer class at the age of six. By eleven I’d learnt how to touch type and by twelve I’d built my own website. After university, I launched my first iPhone app, Beauty Geek, and then I landed an amazing job at UK start-up SwiftKey, where I helped to build an app that got one million downloads on its first day. But I wasn’t content.

“Soon after starting work for another company, I was struck with a deep bout of depression. Some days I barely managed to get out of bed, never mind be productive. And in response, I pushed myself even harder to meet expectations. I was eventually rushed to hospital with what turned out to be a severe panic attack.

“It turned out I wasn’t the only one imploding from the mental stress of work. After blogging about my experience, I received hundreds of messages of support from people with similar experiences. The majority were victims of a growing work culture that promotes long working hours, while frowning upon any signs of weakness.

“I’ve since turned my life around. I now work my dream job as a programmer and designer for art collecting website Artsy, a company that nurtures its employees and values productivity and creativity over long hours. I’m still happy to pull an all-night work session but I now have a more balanced approach to my career.”

Keep track of our Millennial Hopes and Fears online special.

 This article originally appeared in Huck 55 – The Freaked Out Issue. Buy it in the Huck Shop now or subscribe to make sure you never miss another issue. 


Ad

Latest on Huck

Red shop frontage with "Open Out" branding and appointment-only signage.
Activism

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims

Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Cyclists racing past Palestinian flag, yellow barriers, and spectators.
Sport

Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification

Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Crowded festival site with tents, stalls and an illuminated red double-decker bus. Groups of people, including children, milling about on the muddy ground.
© Alan Tash Lodge
Music

New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture

Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Weathered wooden building with a tall spire, person on horseback in foreground.
Culture

Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South

Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.

Written by: Miss Rosen

A collage depicting a giant flup for mankind, with an image of the Earth surrounded by planets and people in sci-fi costumes.
Culture

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind

Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.

Written by: Emma Garland

Three orange book covers with the title "Foreign Fruit" against a dark background.
Culture

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”

Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.

Written by: Katie Goh

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.