“My friends told me: « After 30, it is like on the B side of a K7, all things are going down »
I don’t see it happening for me”
Name : Zoltan Varga
Gender : Male
DoB : 14.11.1982
City of Birth : Budapest, Hungary
Status : Single
Family : 1 Sister (33 YO)
Hometown : Budapest, Hungary
Education : University – Biology
Job : Project manager at a web developer company
Religion : Atheist
Politics : Liberal
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job? I always wanted to be a biologist since kindergarden. When I was a small kid, I had this book about animals and I remember asking my mother: « Who are those people dealing with animals? ». She answered « Biologists »… that’s from where it all started and I went to university to study Biology!
Around 23, I decided to move from biology towards IT. I have always liked to learn chemistry and biology. But it turned out to be different from what I imagined… it was not that easy! Not everybody was able to find a good job in this field and I was not good enough to be
When I was a small kid, I had a book about animals, I remember asking my mother: « Who are those people dealing with animals? ». She answered to me « Biologists »
« chosen ». I also had this IT hobby so I took the opportunity that presented to me. I decided to quit university and work for this Hungarian online bookstore, for which I was in charge of filling up the database with new books. I did not earn very much, but I liked it cause I was dealing with IT and books at the same time. My work had a meaning, because I brought culture to people. Then, the administrator of the company left and I replaced him for 1 year. I learned on the field, even without any background. I read a lot of books about it and understood what it was about… That is what brought me to IT… I really enjoy myself in the IT business… And I also still have to write the thesis in biomedical!
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought you would be living by now? Well, at that time, it did not really matter. The only thing I wanted was to be a marine biologist and work especially with sharks. As they are living mostly in South Africa and Australia, countries where the 1st language is English, I wanted to go there. It seemed accessible for me.
Zoltan playing table football with some friends from work.
Zoltan in front of his house in Budapest.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? My parents got divorced when I was around 20 years old. That was a bit of a shock, I didn’t see it coming, and I was still living there with them (silence).
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in? Definitely, space exploration and space shuttle programs. About 10 years ago, they stopped those programs and started to use the old methods such as rockets. I didn’t understand why they were giving up on space all together and I was asking myself « What is happening now? ». I really think it was a big step backward in technology and science.
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? I was traveling in Dublin in 2005. People were friendly, everything was green there. I remember when someone lost a book in the street, I picked it up, give it back to him and the guy was so pleased… The experience was so good that I could picture myself living in Dublin. Liked the beer, irish folk music and people, so why not ?!
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I was promoted the head of the Quality Control team after one and a half year of working for the company (Liligo)… Which was very rewarding.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I was finishing my 4th year of university, that’s when I decided to move from biology towards IT. I discovered biotechnologies and bioinformatics… it was kind of new for me. I realized that both of my interests could be merged together. I told myself that was so cool, because I didn’t have to choose between my profession and my hobby. I will be able to do both in the future! On a personal ground, I never projected my family life. I was not mature enough, and even today I do not think that I am not responsible enough to have a kid, or to even think about having one… and I haven’t find the right girl yet (smile).
TODAY, well I am not exactly hunting white sharks… Being an ethologist and working for the quality control team in an IT company are totally unrelated. But I do what I like… and it is what matters! I just had to choose between different things that I like, so this is fun anyway.
Zoltan taking the bus, the way of transportation he usually takes to go to work.
Zoltan choosed 3 objects : An E-book symbolizing his passion for books. A medal from a museum that means a lot to him. And a basket ball because he plays basket ball for a local team.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO? It did not change a lot for me. My friends were always tellling me: « After 30, it is like on the B side of a K7, all things are going down. You will see, you will get fat, at least one kilo per year. » (laughs). I don’t see it happening for myself!!
I play basket ball quite often… At the University championship, I was the oldest but I was
It did not change a lot for me… It’s not about the age but more about work and experience.
also the fastest of the team. Physically, nothing changed. Girls told me I’ve changed, that I am less immature. But I do think, this is more about the decisions I have to make at my work (implying up to 1 million investment). It’s not about the age but more about work and experience.
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? In my mind, I haven’t aged since my twenties. My friends and I grew up at the same time, we still experience the same kind of things. So we don’t see ourselves aging.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? In the world, I would say put more money on any kind of research in order to bring new ideas, new technologies or new sciences … In my life, I don’t see anything, I am confident and I feel good about it.
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? Within 10 years, I want to accomplish travels such as visiting Maya ruins. Basically, I want to fill my mind with memories … I will be able in 10 years, to tell tories about my travels, how fun they were. On other grounds, I hope to be promoted as a project manager. And I still have no plan for family… I could be a funny uncle with my sister’s kids, that’s it!
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years? I see it worse, affected by environmental changes: The planet will suffer, many animals will extinct. Cost of life is going to be more and more expensive…. There might be less wars… (Thinking) Other stuff is so political that I cannot really say in which direction they will evolve…
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I do believe that nothing scares me.
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? I defintely want to write a book about religions. I also want to take the time to analyze and compare the 3 main holy books: Bible, Coran and Torah.
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? I wish we could find life somewhere else than on our earth. Actually, I have a dream job in mind, working at the NASA in the extraterrestrial department 😉
