Education
I consider my student years to have been one of the most incredible adventures of my life. I studied hardcore math for six straight years at Lomonosov Moscow State University. It was difficult - sleepless nights poring over books and handwritten notes, loads of homework, and the scramble to catch up after missing a seminar or lecture for a couple of months (he who is without sin can cast the first stone) - but it was so much fun. Even though I rarely use the advanced math I learned, it was totally worth every moment and every effort.
Profession
To be honest, I hated programming when I was a student. It was just a sidetrack in the math department, and in my opinion it was taught very poorly. Every assignment felt like a chore I simply had to get through. The idea that writing code could be something you did voluntarily and enjoy was too much to bear. It was only much later that I finally got the hang of it.
However, one has to eat sometimes, so I began working in tech as a data engineer when I was about 22. After a year of building ETL pipelines, I switched to programming web applications - first in Java for a brief period, and then in Python.
When I graduated from university, I started to think of programming more as a career path than just a side hustle. At that point, I realized that deeply theoretical academic research was probably not for me.
Today, I find deep satisfaction in writing code and watching a computer do exactly what it's told. My professional experience lies mostly in backend engineering, although I have some experience building frontend web UIs. In my spare time, I continue to experiment and seek out new inspirations.
Music
I have loved music for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, my parents would turn on the radio or the stereo system, and it didn't really matter what was playing - the sensation of music was something magical. Later, I got my first MP3 player and for the first time I had some control over the music that accompanied me in life. That's where it all really started. I can't imagine my life without music, and I have many artists and bands who mean a great deal to me, but the two that are most precious - and that kind of outline my musical preferences - are:
Linkin Park
This is where my love for rock music originated. I was about ten or eleven when I first discovered their songs, and they remained my number-one favorite band for many years. I don't usually listen to them nowadays, but they still occupy a special place in my heart. Visiting their concert is on of those lifelong dreams that were just not meant to come true. Rest In Piece Chester, you're always in my heart.
Noize MC
In my opinion, Ivan Alekseyev is one of the sharpest and most talented Russian artists today. His brilliant sense of humour and impeccable moral compass, along with his extraordinary wordsmithing, have made me a loyal fan since I was very young.
Anime
I'm a huge fan of Japanese animation. Here's my Top 5 anime list. The order isn't set in stone and may vary depending on my mood, so don't take it literally.
5: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Have you ever imagined what your life would be like if you could start it all over with all the experience and knowledge you have now? This is the story of a person who accomplished nothing in life - an absolute loser with no job, thrown out of his house by his relatives, who ends up dying after being hit by a car. Moments later, however, he finds himself in the body of a newborn baby. Soon enough, he realizes he's been reborn into a proper fantasy world filled with mages and warriors. How will he take advantage of his second chance at life?
4: “Kaguya-sama: Love Is War”
This is the best rom-com I have ever seen. Absolutely hilarious story about two genius students at Japan's most prestigious school who play elaborate mind games to trick each other into confessing their feelings, constantly making excuses for why it has to be the other person who makes the first move.
3: “Steins;Gate”
It all begins when the self-proclaimed mad scientist Hououin Kyouma turns a microwave in his laboratory into a machine that can send messages back in time. The intricate plot, charming characters, and expertly balanced blend of drama and comedy draw you in. Sometimes you lose track of what's happening, but then the storyline twists again, and everything falls into place. Altogether, it makes for a perfect time-travel story you won't regret watching.
2: “Naruto”
This has always been the anime for me. I grew up watching and re-watching every episode. It is definitely my number-one favourite fictional universe of all time. Naruto Uzumaki is an orphan living in the shinobi village known as the “Hidden Leaf Village“. His dream is to become Hokage - the most respected warrior and head of the village - which is complicated by everyone's hatred of him. He soon discovers he isn't ordinary: as a newborn, he was used as a vessel to seal an ancient demon - the Nine-Tailed Fox, a personification of hatred and destruction.
1: “Attack On Titan”
On the verge of extinction, humanity hides on a small piece of land surrounded by 50-metre-high walls. The reason: Titans - terrifying, gigantic, humanoid creatures whose only purpose is to devour humans. The story begins when the Titans breach the gates for the first time after centuries of peaceful life behind the walls. Mangaka Hajime Isayama depicts human nature under extreme circumstances with incredible psychological accuracy. Absolutely genius.
Sports
Football
My absolute favourite sport is football. I'm not much of a football fan in the stands, though - I prefer playing it myself. Over the past couple of years, I haven't played as often, but before that I was on an amateur league team in Moscow. As a forward, my main strength has always been my explosive speed.
8-Ball Pool
A couple of years ago, I became very keen on playing 8-ball pool. Playing in a bar is one of my favourite leisurely activities.
Running
When it comes to meditative, repetitive sports, nothing compares to running, in my opinion. I enjoy a good jogging session on a treadmill or outdoors.
Other Sports
In the past, I had periods when I was passionate about many sports - such as table tennis, volleyball, and others.
However
Three months ago (on May 1, 2025), I was seriously injured when I was hit by a car. I am still recovering from that accident. Right now, my left foot is not in particularly good condition. I can only walk on crutches, and I spend most of my days in a wheelchair or lying in bed. Never in my life have I appreciated the ability to walk normally so much. I have a long road to full recovery ahead of me, and I hope this situation will not affect my relationship with sports in the long term. I'm looking forward to running, playing football, and doing everything else again.
Games
I'm not a hardcore gamer - gaming drifts in and out of my life periodically. My favourite titles tend to be real-time multiplayer games:
Dota 2
This is a true love-hate relationship. Nothing messes with my mental stability more than this game. Even now I'll sometimes return and play for a couple of weeks. Taking it seriously is way too much though.
World of Warcraft
I only started playing during Shadowlands, but I quickly grew fond of it. Every season I at least give it a go. The game mode I enjoy most is Mythic Plus. I usually heal, but I'll swap into other roles from time to time.
Hollow Knight
The game design, the art, the story, the difficulty - everything about Hollow Knight is beautiful. I've heard Silksong is coming soon, right? Right...?