My mother was an elementary school teacher. She was pretty cool, and I can remember the devotion she had for her work.

She often said that it was not a job, but a privilege.

Somehow I always thought that she was just trying to sell me what she was doing. Well, I have never been more mistaken, and I am sorry she’s no more here to listen to me asking her forgiveness and cheering her for appreciation.

My child’s teacher asked me to run a coding class for 3rd graders. In the beginning, I was a little bit reluctant. You know the usual excuses: I am too busy with my job.

At the end of the day I accepted. I can tell you it was one of the best decision I ever made in my life.

I spent four hours running from one table to another trying to let these children build their first ever computer program.

I have worked for the last 25 years, and I have done a lot of things.

I have coded a few devices drivers, and I have seen hardware responding to my commands and working as designed.

I coded a Unix System V printer spooler for a big retail client, and I someone told me it’s still out there running on a few machines.

I have spoken at many conferences, and I have given lectures at different universities.

I helped a few companies grow and flourish.

I have launched the first UMTS commercial handset and won the 3GSM award for Best Mobile Music Application award.

I have sold projects and programs that have changed people life for the good.

I am quite happy with my accomplishments so far.

A lot of great emotions, but none of them could be compared to the emotions I felt when I saw the eyes of those children shine when they run their first computer program.

A few years ago I had the honor to have dinner with Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and TED speaker.

I still remember one of this sentences: “Who am I being, that my children’s eyes are not shining?”

This is exactly what I was thinking while standing in front of the class. I had to make those eyes shine. And they did!