Sopandi

About

Personal Profile – A Journey of Curiosity and Growth in Technology

My journey into the world of computers began with a simple curiosity. As I observed more and more people starting to work with computers, a voice within me said, “If others can do it, why can’t I?” This inner drive sparked my interest in learning how to use computers. I began asking questions and experimenting with popular applications of that time, such as WordStar, Lotus 1-2-3, and dBase III. Alhamdulillah, within just a few months, I managed to use these applications—though perhaps only at about 10% proficiency. After nearly a year of self-study and practice, an unexpected opportunity came: a friend offered me a teaching position at a well-known Islamic educational institution in the Bekasi area.

Driven by courage and curiosity, I accepted the offer. I became a computer studies teacher at Al-Azhar Jakapermai Bekasi, teaching students from elementary to high school during the day and working professionals in the evening. I spent around eight years in this role, focusing primarily on teaching Microsoft Office applications. Following requests from various departments, I was transferred to the Learning Resource Center, where I dove deeper into software related to design and media. I worked extensively with applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, CorelDRAW, and ventured into audio-video editing using Adobe Premiere, Ulead Video Studio, Canopus, Audacity, MP3 Split, Wave Studio, and others.

In 2017, I transitioned again—this time to the General Affairs Department, specifically handling Inventory Management. This role led me to engage more with database systems. I began learning various database tools, starting with basic Excel, then moving to Excel Macros and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). In keeping with the rapid development of technology, I eventually started exploring web-based applications. I taught myself the foundations of web development, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, PHP, MySQL, jQuery, and more. Today, what started as simple curiosity has evolved into a lifelong passion for learning and growing in the world of technology.

In 2023, I was entrusted with a new responsibility: to lead a company owned by the Islamic Boarding School Foundation of Al-Azhar—PT Uswah Salam Al Azhar—as President Director. After dedicating myself to this role, I officially entered retirement in July 2025. I am deeply grateful to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for making it possible for me to learn and grow in the field of computer science. Although I have now retired, I remain eager to continue sharing and applying the knowledge I have gained for the benefit of the wider community.