From strangers to friends: how the Sprint builds skills and friendships with Artur, Indrek and Asad

The Selection Sprint attracts people from all walks of life—some with coding experience, some with none, but all with the drive to grow. We spoke to three sprinters—Asad, Artur, and Indrek—about what pushed them to join and what they’ve learned along the way.

Artur & Indrek: friends found in code

Artur, a 26-year-old stay-at-home dad, and Indrek, a 29-year-old service advisor with a background in automotive engineering, met during the Selection Sprint — and quickly became friends. When asked if they knew each other before, they both laughed and shook their heads. “No, we didn’t know each other before — we just clicked fast. But we also have our group of friends,” Artur said about the people they met during the first weeks.

Artur explained why he decided to join: “Since I’ve been working with computers my whole life, and I was tired of manual labor, that’s what made me choose coding.”

Indrek shared his reason: “I like remote work. I like to work from wherever I am, and I like building something from just scratch.”

“The most exciting part has been the people,” Artur shared. “So many different backgrounds, but somehow we’re all moving in the same direction,” added Indrek.

Neither came in with prior experience in coding, and both admitted they wish they’d prepared more beforehand. Still, the experience has been eye-opening.

Indrek’s biggest surprise? Passing the first exam. “I honestly didn’t expect to score any points,” he said. “But when I did — it felt good.”

Despite the challenges, both agree that the Sprint taught them far more than just coding. “You learn about time management, sleep habits, and how you handle pressure.”

Their advice for anyone considering the Sprint? – “Push through it. You’re much tougher than you think.”

Artur (second from the left) and Indrek (third from the left) playing pool with the friend group during the Selection Sprint

Asad: A seasoned developer sharpening his skills

Asad, 32 year old software developer with five years of experience, joined the Sprint not to start over but to sharpen his skills.

When asked why he decided to study coding again despite his experience, Asad explained, “I had some free time, and the best part was the networking — meeting so many people. I also wanted to gain experience in leadership and mentorship, because here I can guide and help others in this field.”

He added, “Since I help juniors, there isn’t a single time I haven’t learned something from them.”

The most exciting part for Asad has been watching others’ persistence: “It’s inspiring to see people who started coding just a week ago still pushing through. To succeed in programming, you need to be stubborn and keep pursuing it.”

The Sprint challenged Asad in new ways, especially since Java was a new language for him. “I had to go back to basics — pen and paper,” he said.

His top advice? – “Don’t take all of it at once. Take baby steps. One step at a time.”

Key takeaways:

• Even experienced developers can benefit from going back to basics.
• Friendships and connections are often the most exciting part of the Sprint.
• Persistence matters.
• Take things step by step—coding is a journey.
• You’ll learn not just how to code, but how to push your own limits.

Whether you’re a working holiday explorer or someone searching for growth—you don’t have to figure it out alone. The Selection Sprint brings together people from every background to learn, grow and see if coding is something for you.

Join us in the next Selection Sprint starting on July 28th!