Edgar Wanga: "My Journey as a DBA"

My journey as a database administrator began in June 2003. After graduating from the “R.K. - Middelbare Technische School” (known as MTS) in Curaçao, I continued my studies at the “Technische Hogeschool" in Rijswijk, Netherlands. 

Although I knew that I had a passion for information technology, I still needed more experience and information in order to decide which area to specialize in. After exploring and experiencing ICT in various fields and specializations, I graduated in July of 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, majoring in Network Administration and minoring in Communication and Multimedia design.

The firm where I completed my final internship offered me a position as a junior network administrator, however living far from my home island for much longer wasn't part of my plans. Determined to pursue my instincts, I refused the offer and returned to Curaçao later that year.

As a newbie in the field, without much work experience, finding a job proved to be a challenge. Out of several applications that I sent out, I received only one call for a job interview a few weeks before departing from Holland.

Thankfully, I debuted in the labor sector on September 1st, 2007, where on my first day, I was sent to an Oracle administration course and began gathering knowledge as a DBA. A few years after attending courses and passing the exams, I was officially certified as an Oracle Professional.

In March 2014, I received a job opportunity at Ictual as a Senior Database Administrator(DBA) and switched from being an internal DBA to an Oracle DBA consultant. This change further pushed me to learn more and be able to solve the challenges that we encounter.

As a DBA, it is my responsibility to ensure that the data remains confidential, maintains its integrity, and is always available within the organization’s database. The database is a crucial component of any application, as it stores all the information received from end-users or automated end systems. 

The DBA plays a central role in the IT organization and works closely with developers, network engineers, system operators, and application owners. Being able to provide support at various levels within the IT department makes the role both interesting and diverse for me.

Ever since joining Ictual, I’ve had the opportunity to work for some of the largest organizations here in Curaçao. One of the things I enjoy the most about my job is that I have to maintain a problem-solution mindset in order to serve our customers to the best of my abilities. 

To conclude,

• Not everything is perfectly planned in life. 
• Choose the life you want to live and navigate your journey with passion and excitement and celebrate the smallest achievements along the way.
• It's about exploring possibilities, embracing opportunities, learning, and keep moving forward.

And As Allen F. Morgenstern famously said, “Work smarter, not harder,” and that is my guiding principle as a DBA.