Stefan stared at the map he had gotten from the campus office, recognizing several provinces that Uncle John had mentioned before. Even though he came from a small province like Riverton, he knew that every province contributed greatly to the nation of Terra Coders. Each place had its own story, and he had to make the most of this opportunity.
"This is a world I need to learn about," Stefan thought, gazing at the large map in front of him. "But I have to start my journey here, and I won't stop until I reach the top."
After completing his registration and receiving his class schedule, he decided to take a walk around campus to get to know his new environment better. It was a world much bigger than Riverton, but full of opportunities waiting to be explored.
The campus was truly alive—students from various backgrounds gathered, talking about all sorts of topics, from advanced programming to startup projects they were developing. Stefan felt like he was in the middle of a pulsating ecosystem full of energy. Every step he took felt as though he was walking on ground filled with potential.
While walking, Stefan met a few other new students who were also enjoying the campus atmosphere. One of them was a young man named Daniel, who also seemed to have just arrived in the capital.
"Hey, are you a new student too?" Daniel asked with a wide smile, noticing Stefan looking at the campus map.
Stefan nodded. "Yeah, it's my first day here. This campus is huge, isn't it?"
Daniel laughed. "Definitely. You could get lost if you're not careful. I'm still figuring it out too."
They began walking together, talking about their backgrounds. Daniel was from the Province of Helia, a region known for its cutting-edge technology and fast-paced cities. The two of them chatted about their majors and, of course, their hopes for university life.
"So, what's your biggest goal in studying here?" Daniel asked, glancing at Stefan.
Stefan thought for a moment. "I want to learn as much as I can. This world is so big, and I want to deepen my programming skills. I don't just want to be an ordinary programmer—I want to create something that can change the world."
Daniel nodded. "Me too. Back in Helia, they always say, 'If you can solve problems with code, you can change the world.' I think we have that chance here."
After a while, they arrived at a large room used for various student activities. There, they met a few new friends, including a girl named Laura from the Province of Ashford. Laura was very enthusiastic about campus projects, and Stefan began to feel interested in joining some extracurricular activities.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the campus loudspeakers:
"Attention! All new students, please gather in the Main Hall for campus orientation. All activities start at 1 PM. Don't be late!"
Stefan and Daniel exchanged looks, then rushed to the main hall. It was large, bright, and already filled with students. Soon, an elderly professor with gray hair and thick glasses stepped onto the stage. He introduced himself as Professor Alden, head of the Programming and Technology Department.
"Welcome, new students!" he said. "Here, you won't just learn to become tech experts—you'll be trained to face a constantly evolving world."
Those words struck a chord with Stefan. He felt like he was in the right place to grow and pursue his dreams.
The days that followed at Coders University were filled with lessons and challenges. Stefan began adjusting to the fast pace of campus life—classes, assignments, projects, and discussions. Though busy, a part of him felt empty. Now and then, his mind wandered back to the quiet simplicity of Riverton. But he knew this was his path.
One sunny afternoon, after finishing a group assignment on basic algorithms, Stefan sat in the campus park, recalling a conversation with Uncle John before leaving.
"Never be afraid to go further," Uncle John had said. "Even in a vast world, every small step brings you closer to your goal."
Those words echoed in his mind. He knew that reaching his goal had to start with small things.
Suddenly, Daniel and Laura came up to him, their faces excited.
"Hey, Stefan! There's a hackathon on campus next week! We thought you'd be interested," Daniel said.
"A hackathon? What's that?" Stefan asked, curious.
Laura explained, "It's a competition where you build an app within a limited time, like 24 or 48 hours. Lots of big companies keep an eye on these."
Stefan was instantly intrigued. This was a big opportunity to test himself.
"Of course I'm interested! How do we sign up?"
The three of them agreed to form a team and started preparing. The night before the competition, they gathered at the campus café to strategize.
"I can't wait to start tomorrow," Stefan said eagerly.
Laura nodded. "This could be a really valuable experience."
Daniel raised his glass. "Let's give it our best! This is our first step to showing what we can do."
The next day, the hackathon began. The hall buzzed with energy, ideas, and the pressure of the ticking clock. Teams competed to build the best applications. Stefan's team chose to create an efficient study time management app.
Hour after hour, challenges came and went. But their teamwork grew stronger. Stefan felt himself evolving—not just as a programmer, but as a part of a team that truly supported one another.
They didn't win, but the experience was invaluable. Stefan felt more confident and more connected to his friends. They even started planning ideas for the next hackathon.
"I didn't expect to learn so much in just two days," Stefan said as they rested.
Daniel smiled. "That's what we call experience. And we've only just begun."
Stefan looked up at the evening sky, now tinged with color. The big world was truly waiting for him—and now, he was ready to face it. Every new step opened the door to unexpected adventures and opportunities—and he knew, this was just the beginning.