This migration wasn’t just about data — it was about me.

After five months working full time at the cashback startup (Beblue), I had finished all my college classes and just needed to complete my TCC (final project).

That was back in 2019, when I decided it was time to look for new opportunities — partly to advance my career, but also to broaden my perspective on life.

Looking back, it was part curiosity, part ambition — and part not wanting to wonder “what if?” later.

I started studying for job interviews, but kept it a secret from my family. I didn’t want to make my parents worry, and honestly, I didn’t want to give myself false hope either.

After three months of lots of interviews, I ended up with offers from two companies. One was EBANX in Curitiba, a payment platform that supports global operations like Spotify, Ubisoft, and Sony. The other was QuintoAndar, a real estate startup in São Paulo that helps thousands of people find a place to call home.

After a big talk with my family, I started looking for apartments. I took a weekend trip to São Paulo to visit some options, and honestly, I was surprised by how expensive it was to rent — and by the poor quality of what I could afford. After visiting a lot of places, I finally found one with a price in my range and a decent quality. Plus, it was just five minutes walking to the Metro, which was a must for me.

So in the second quarter of 2019, I moved to São Paulo. I wasn’t alone — a friend from college also landed a job there, and we decided to live together since it would be cheaper for both of us.

I still remember the day we moved. My parents drove me and my friend to São Paulo, and when we arrived at our new place, we carried in just one box with all my stuff. Some big move, right? After that, we all went to the supermarket to buy cleaning supplies and gave the apartment its very first clean.

After my parents left, I just sat there reflecting on everything that had happened up to that moment. Deep down, I knew this change was necessary — to keep evolving and to push myself to become a better person.

The next days were tough: a new job, new people, trying to figure out how to cook without burning rice, and feeling a bit lost in a city that never seemed to slow down.

But in the end, I fell in love with the city. There’s so much to do here. The people are different — their minds are open, and their way of thinking is stimulating. That really got me.

Of course, there’s also a lot of violence, theft, and bad influences everywhere. Today, I understand why so many people dream of leaving São Paulo.

But even with all its chaos, it was the perfect place for that chapter of my life.

No regrets. São Paulo made me grow up fast — more responsibility, more challenges, and now a life where I have to live up to the expectations I’ve set for myself.

If I can give any advice, it’s this: don’t be afraid to try new things. Get out of your box. Live new experiences. In a time when technology is growing faster than ever, it’s these moments that keep us human.