We were lucky to catch up with Alex Kafouse recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

The American education system, as it stands, is not designed to help students succeed in life. Students spend over a decade learning general information, much of which never translates into practical, everyday use. It’s ironic that a system created to prepare students for life fails to achieve its most basic goal.

For students to genuinely succeed, they need a curriculum tailored to their individual strengths and interests. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we should encourage curiosity and allow students to explore subjects they’re passionate about. Ask students: What topics pique your interest? What changes do you want to bring to the world? What do you find so interesting that it flips a switch in your brain, making it fire on all cylinders? By giving students the freedom to explore their curiosities, we can nurture a lifelong passion for learning about the things that matter to them most.

This is just my perspective—not based on research or scientific studies, but on personal experience. Growing up, no one ever asked me what I found interesting or what career path I wanted to pursue. It wasn’t until four years after high school that I finally got on the right track, spending nearly two decades figuring out what I wanted to do. I can only imagine how much more I could have accomplished if I had spent even half that time learning and developing skills that would support me throughout my career. That’s why I believe it’s crucial to help students identify what they truly want for themselves early on—by giving them the freedom to shape their own path.

The simplest way to explain the change needed is this:

Don’t force everyone to fit into a mold. Allow them to create their own, and they will flourish.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

You could say I got into tech by accident. Initially, I was just trying to build a website to showcase my photography portfolio. Most people would’ve used platforms like Wix or Squarespace, but I wanted to avoid monthly fees and see if I could build it myself. Once I started learning how to create a website from scratch, I became completely fascinated by the process. What started as a simple project quickly turned into a passion, and ever since, I’ve been dedicated to mastering not just web development, but software engineering as a whole.

This passion led me to discover 100Devs, a community of software engineers and aspiring developers all working toward a common goal: mastering the craft and breaking into the tech industry. This community played a huge role in my growth, providing guidance, structure, and a sense of camaraderie that made learning even more fulfilling. It also deepened my commitment to pursuing software engineering as a career.

As my skills grew, I became more drawn to the challenge of solving complex problems through technology. Whether I encounter a problem myself or someone presents one to me, I enjoy breaking it down, analyzing different solutions, and figuring out the most effective approach. The process of problem-solving—finding the “how” and “why” behind a solution—is what truly drives me.

This problem-solving mindset naturally shaped the way I approach my work today. As a freelance developer, I provide a range of services, from simple single-page websites to full-stack web applications that require dedicated servers and databases. When working with clients, I prioritize clarity and communication. Every project begins with a free 30-minute consultation to understand their needs and goals. From there, I outline the scope, timeline, pricing, and address any questions they may have. Once we move forward, I ensure transparency with consistent communication by providing weekly email updates until the project is complete.

What sets me apart is my analytical approach, attention to detail, and commitment to building solutions that are both functional and impactful. I don’t just write code—I create systems that solve real problems efficiently. I take pride in delivering results that are practical, effective, and built to last. The challenge of finding and implementing the right solution is what excites me most, and I’m always looking for new opportunities to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Losing my code was a brutal wake-up call about the importance of backups, but it also reinforced something deeper: my drive and my passion.

I recently lost the majority of the software code I’ve been working on for the past year and a half. To keep a long story short, I damaged my laptop beyond repair and after sending it to a data recovery specialist, they were unable to recover any of the files.

I know that if any of my colleagues in tech are reading this, they’re probably shaking their heads, thinking: “You didn’t push your code to a remote repository? No external backups? Rookie mistake.” And you know what? They’re right. Some of my code was backed up, but not nearly enough. It’s a hard lesson, but one I’m glad to learn now—before I’m responsible for the website of a multibillion-dollar company.

I’m trying to stay optimistic, but I can’t help feeling furious with myself for not being more cautious. Among the losses were my personal website and two apps I’d poured countless hours into. I think most people in my situation would just call it quits, and understandably so. However, ever since I learned to code I’ve had this relentless urge to solve any and all problems I can by building an app for it. Once I get started, I lose track of time, so fixated on the process that hours can pass without me even noticing.

Given time, I know I will be able to restore my apps and see them through to launch. That’s where I feel like I am different from the rest. Others would think it’s time to call it quits. Meanwhile, my current mindset is, I’ve done it once and I can do it again. I’ve found my niche, and setbacks won’t stop me—if anything, they’ll fuel me.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I make sure my clients—and potential clients—have multiple ways to get in touch with me. The main two being my personal cell and email. As long as it is a reasonable hour, I will promptly respond to any text, email, missed call etc. It’s a no-brainer but, ensuring that clients can get in touch easily is essential to fostering trust and open communication.

Beyond accessibility, client education is at the core of my approach. Software engineering is a complex field, and it has taken me years to develop my expertise. However, I believe it’s important for my clients to feel informed and confident in the decisions they’re making. I’m always happy to answer any questions, no matter how big or small, and I ensure they never have to make a choice without fully understanding their options. Ultimately, my goal is to help others achieve their personal or business objectives, and I take pride in being a trusted resource throughout the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: Coming Soon
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-kafouse-3b752a20b
• Other: Github: https://github.com/Kafouse05

  Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

Alex Kafouse