My Journey: From Jakarta to UW

By Joseph Davis Chamdani · November 2025

How I moved from Indonesia to Seattle at 15, skipped two years of high school, and made it to the University of Washington as a junior in Informatics.

I think this all started when me and my family went to Atlanta for a summer trip to visit my cousins. When we were there, my dad suddenly got this idea: what if I studied in the U.S.? My dad even found a place called Baylor High School, and believe it or not, I almost moved there. But my dad decided to keep me in Highscope instead. (Yes, Highscope Indonesia , that's my school's actual name, not a typo of "high school" haha.)

Back then, I wasn't exactly the most responsible student. I played games all day, didn't really study, and just went with the flow. But seeing my cousins do so well and get into great schools really changed my mindset. When I got back to Indonesia and started grade 10 (which is when high school starts there), I decided I wanted to take things seriously.

The Start of Everything

So I started grinding. Studying more, focusing on my classes, and trying to be my best self. One night, I was on a call with my old friend Caleb. We were just catching up, and he showed me a small website he was building. It was simple, but for some reason it sparked something in me.

I'd always been into tech, but I never actually tried coding before. That night changed everything. I started learning and joined some bootcamps: web development, UI/UX, and later Unity 3D. I ended up really liking it, and that's when I realized maybe this is what I want to do.

At Highscope, we were required to complete two internships before graduating, so I went ahead and applied early. After finishing a Unity 3D bootcamp, I asked the company if I could intern with them, and they said yes. That's how I got my first internship as a Game Developer at VR Park.

Even though I only worked around 3 to 5 hours a week while in school, it lasted six months and taught me a lot. I learned how to work with people, handle tasks, and communicate better. More importantly, I met so many people in tech and realized this world is growing fast. It felt like the start of something big.

During that same year, I also founded the first-ever tech club at Highscope called Developer Network. It started as a small group of students who wanted to learn coding, design, and video editing together, and it became a place where I could share what I was learning from bootcamps with my classmates.

The Big Decision

Halfway through grade 10, my dad came to me and gave me two choices. He said, "Do you want to finish high school here, or go to the U.S. and join a program where you can earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree?"

I didn't even think twice. I said yes to the U.S. right away.

I wanted to try something new and see the world, even though I was only 15. Around that time, I also took the AP Computer Science A exam. Everyone thought I was crazy for taking it so early, and they were probably right because I got a 1 out of 5. But still, I took it. That experience taught me not to be afraid of trying.

In April, I flew to Seattle with my family to visit some colleges. We checked out Shoreline, Green River, Whatcom, Seattle Central, and Bellevue College. For some reason, Bellevue just felt right. One of the reasons I chose Bellevue was because of Leonardo Edwin's videos - he shared his experience as an Indonesian student at BC, and that really inspired me. So I applied, got accepted, said goodbye to my friends in Indonesia, and got ready for the next chapter of my life.

After my internship at VR Park ended in January 2023, I still had quite a bit of time before leaving for the U.S. So from June to September, I joined TouchTen Games as a guest student. I worked on game cutscenes for their mobile game Piper's Cat Café, which was such a fun experience. I got to work with professional developers and designers, and it gave me a glimpse of what it's like to be in the game industry.

Starting a New Life in Seattle

When I first moved to Seattle, I stayed with a host family. My parents helped me settle in, but once they left, reality hit. I was completely alone in a new country. I had to figure everything out: cooking, laundry, and public transport. I definitely took Indonesia for granted, but living alone made me grow up faster.

During my first week at Bellevue College, I met new friends, mostly Indonesians. One of them, Abraham, told me to join the BC Tech Club, so I did. Somehow, I became an officer during my first week. My first project was building a website, and I spent the whole night coding it at Abraham's house.

Abraham became my mentor. He taught me so much, from tech stuff to life advice. He's now studying at UC Berkeley majoring in data science, and I'm really thankful for all the guidance he gave me back then.

That first quarter also brought something unexpected. I met a girl named Jessica . I was friends with her brother, and he invited her to church with us. That's how we met. Fast forward, she's my girlfriend now haha.

But that quarter was also the hardest in a different way. My friend Caleb, the one who showed me that first website, passed away. It really shocked me. He was one of the main reasons I got into tech, and losing him so early made me realize how much this path meant to me. Since then, I've carried a small part of him in everything I do. Continuing this journey became my way to honor him.

Bellevue College Life

The next few quarters went by fast. I took more computer science and math classes and started planning the Bellevue College Hackathon: BC Hacks 2024.

By spring quarter, things got really intense. Between my classes and organizing the hackathon, my schedule was packed. But I learned how to manage time, worked with a team, and worked under pressure. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had.

Want to read more about BC Hacks 2024?

Around the same time, I also became the Secretary of the Bellevue Indonesian Club. It was a great way to stay connected to my Indonesian roots while living abroad, and I got to help organize events and build community among Indonesian students at Bellevue College.

Then came summer quarter, and for some reason, I decided to take four classes and do an internship at Stockbit as an AI Engineer. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. But it turned out fine. I finished with straight A's and learned a lot about AI, data, and automation.

Transferring to UW

Fall and winter 2024 were all about transfer applications. I applied to 13 universities: all the UCs, Georgia Tech, and UW. Sadly, I couldn't apply to East Coast schools because my credits wouldn't transfer since I was still technically a high school student.

But it all worked out. I got into the University of Washington. I was rejected from UW Computer Science but got accepted into Informatics, and honestly, that was good enough for me. I even turned down UC Irvine's CS offer because UW just felt like home.

Graduation from Bellevue College

A few months later, I graduated from Bellevue College.

Standing on that stage, holding my diploma, I couldn't help but think about how far I'd come. Two years earlier, I was a 15-year-old kid moving to a new country alone. That day, surrounded by friends, mentors, and family, it really hit me that I made it.

Now I'm a junior in Informatics, and working as an AI Research & Development Intern at Sector, a cybersecurity company. It's been a wild ride, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Looking Back

Sometimes I still can't believe how much has happened, from being that kid who played games all day, to studying abroad alone at 15, to now being at UW and working in AI.

Skipping two years of high school taught me a lot about independence, time, and how fast life moves when you take chances.

I didn't take the traditional path, but I'm glad I didn't. Everything that's happened, from Highscope to Bellevue College to UW, made me who I am today.

Thanks for reading.