I Failed, Took a Chance, and Found an Unexpected Opportunity

2025-03-16

I used AI to translate this post into English to share my thoughts more clearly with a wider audience.

Can Adversity Enhance Creativity?

I sometimes watch science-related YouTube videos, and today, I came across an interesting discussion in a neuroscience video.

Can adversity enhance creativity? In psychology, the concept of post-traumatic growth suggests that overcoming struggles leads to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world, often resulting in a shift in values and perspectives. The process of breaking down and rebuilding can foster positive psychological growth, which, in turn, enhances creative abilities.

This resonated with me. I can't share my entire life story here, but I want to briefly talk about a moment when I tried to turn adversity into an opportunity.

Feeling Lost as a Junior Developer

When I first started working as a developer at a small startup, I often felt like I was struggling to keep up. About eight months after launching the product, I found myself feeling lost.

I'm a developer now, but what exactly should I be doing?

Today, there are plenty of seminars, tech meetups, boot camps, and courses available in South Korea. But back then, resources weren’t as easily accessible. I felt stuck. One day, I came across an announcement: A well-known tech company in Korea was launching its first-ever internship program.

I didn’t hesitate—I applied. But when I took the technical test, I realized I was facing problems I had never encountered before. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t make it.

The Disappointment of Missing an Opportunity

The rejection itself was disappointing, but what made it harder was knowing what I had missed out on.

This wasn’t just a typical internship—

  • Senior developer mentoring
  • Hands-on experience with real projects
  • Pair programming sessions

I knew these were invaluable opportunities, and missing out felt like a real setback. Then, something unexpected happened. The rejection email was sent out, but due to an internal mistake, every applicant’s email address was exposed in the CC field instead of being hidden in BCC. Shortly after, the company’s CTO sent out an apology email for the data breach. At that moment, a thought crossed my mind:

Maybe I should reach out to the CTO. Even a single piece of advice could help me figure out my next steps.

The Email That Started It All

So, I decided to write an email to the CTO.

📩 June 11, 2017 (Sunday) 5:37 PM
Hello OOO CTO,
My name is Minwoo Roh, and I recently applied for the internship program.

I originally hoped to meet you in person through the internship and
ask for advice as a junior developer. Since I didn’t pass the test,
I thought I’d reach out via email instead. 😊

I haven’t been a developer for long.
I started working at a travel startup and built a React Native app.

...

My question is:
"As a frontend developer,
where should I focus to truly grow and build great software?"

I know I still have a lot to learn.
Should I dig deeper into the React ecosystem,
or should I broaden my understanding of core programming concepts?

I realize you’re busy, so I don’t want to take up too much of your time.
But if you could share even a brief piece of advice,
I would be truly grateful. 😊

An Unexpected Invitation

At first, I was hopeful that I might get a reply. But three days passed, and there was no response.

"Of course, they must be busy."

Then, out of nowhere, I received an email

📩 The CTO has received your message. After reviewing it internally, we'd like to invite you to our office to discuss your questions. If you'd like, we can also arrange a coffee chat with our Frontend Lead.

I was genuinely surprised. I had only expected a short reply, yet I was being invited to their office.

The One Sentence That Changed My Perspective

I wanted to make the most of this opportunity. So, when I met the Frontend Lead, I asked a question that had been on my mind for a long time:

"Frontend technologies evolve so quickly—how do you keep up?"

His answer completely changed the way I approach learning.

Frontend is like an onion. If you keep peeling layer after layer without direction, you might never reach the core. Instead of chasing every new trend, focus on understanding why a technology was created and what problem it solves. In the end, you need to define your own criteria for learning and understanding technology.

This perspective shift had a profound impact on me. Every new technology emerges because it solves a specific problem in an existing system. Since then, whenever I study something new, I always ask myself:

What problem led to this innovation?

Taking the Next Step

After the meeting, the company kindly gave me some of their branded merchandise, and I sent a thank-you email before heading home.

Looking back, this experience wasn’t just about learning technical skills—it was about how we navigate challenges and create opportunities. Even now, with AI and new tools reshaping the industry, I often find myself questioning:

  • What kind of developer should I become?
  • What should I focus on?
  • Am I heading in the right direction?

But I’ve come to realize that uncertainty will always exist. What truly matters is how we choose to respond and what steps we take next. Recently, I saw a post on LinkedIn that resonated with me:

Rather than hesitating, just take action. More often than not, it’s worth it.

opportunities—lay the foundation, keep learning, and watch efforts grow into something meaningful.