0xc4t Notes

Web Security & Active Directory Security

My Journey to Becoming a Pentester at 17

Hello World! My name is Varel Valensio, but you can call me Varel—or anything you like, as long as it's respectful lol.

In this article, I want to share my journey into pentesting. Hopefully my story can help or inspire those of you who want to get into cybersecurity.

A Bit About My Background

I'm from East Belitung, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia. I graduated from elementary school but couldn't continue due to family and financial issues. I finished elementary school around 2019 when I was about 12.

But honestly, my interest in "hacking" appeared even earlier—around age 10–11. Especially after watching the movie Who Am I. I was like, “damn, this is cool.”

I'm sharing this because it’s part of how I eventually became a pentester at 17, right after I finally got my ID card lol.

Where It All Started: Networking

I was deeply interested in computer networks. I learned:

And yes… I avoided Winbox just to look “pro,” even though it made my life harder hahaha.

After learning networking, I suddenly wanted to be a front-end developer. Sounds funny, right? Instead of going into SOC, NOC, DevSecOps, or SysAdmin, I wanted to build websites haha.

I studied HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Bootstrap from the WPU channel. Thanks a lot, Mas Sandhika Galih!

Getting Serious About Pentesting

Once I understood basic web programming and networking, that childhood hacker spirit came back. I started playing CTFs on:

Then I joined Telegram communities, took Udemy courses, and started hunting vulnerabilities on government websites under CSIRT programs. Sometimes I got certificates, sometimes swag, and rarely money hahaha.

I also shared most of my certificates on LinkedIn, as part of my portfolio. Then one day, an HR from Xynexis International, named Anggi, messaged me. I honestly doubted they would hire someone who didn’t finish school.

But I chose to be honest:

“I only graduated from elementary school and I’m currently trying to get my junior high diploma. If the company is okay with that, then I’m ready to work.”

Surprisingly, she checked with her manager. About a month later, I was given a HackTheBox lab (an insane machine… unbelievable lol). I did my best using whatever knowledge I had.

Then I got invited to a technical interview, answered based on experience… and I got accepted.

When I turned 17, I flew to Jakarta and started working. On the first day I was super stiff and awkward. Fun fact: I bowed and shook hands politely with HR when going home. Yes… I literally salim-ed hahaha.

The Importance of Community & Friends

One thing I also learned along the way is this:

Community and friendships are extremely important.

Being around people who share the same passion helps a lot. Through communities, I met friends who were willing to discuss, share knowledge, exchange ideas, and grow together.

Sometimes one simple discussion can open the door to a whole new understanding. Sometimes friends give you motivation when you're stuck or doubting yourself. And sometimes they’re just there to remind you that learning doesn’t have to be lonely.

So yeah—build connections, join communities, and make friends. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.

What’s the Lesson Here?

From everything I’ve gone through, I realized something:

Your background doesn’t define your future. Your effort, consistency, and willingness to learn do.

If you want to be a pentester:

With the right foundation and people around you, your path becomes much easier, more fun, and way more meaningful.

I hope my story gives you some motivation or a clearer picture of this journey. Good luck wherever you're heading next!

— Varel 💻🐱

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