From Uncertainty to Empowerment: My Journey to Becoming a Software Engineer

Hello friends! 🌟

Today, I want to share my journey—how I navigated from uncertainty in my early days to finding my path as a software engineer. Was it sheer hard work that got me here, or was it destiny? Let’s dive into my story and find out!

The Early Years: A Lack of Direction

Growing up in a family without a strong educational background, I entered school without any goals or ambitions. Until my 10th grade, I attended classes merely because my parents wanted me to experience what they never could. It was during my +1 that I faced a critical decision: Should I pursue commerce or science? Influenced by societal views that doctors and engineers earn more, I chose science—even though I had little interest in biology.

Finding My Footing in IT

As I started Junior College, I discovered a subject that sparked my interest: Information Technology. I decided to take this subject, as my passion for computers filled me with enthusiasm. Even though I managed to pass my +2, my grades weren’t impressive.

After taking a common entrance test for engineering colleges, I found myself at a college that I could afford. However, due to financial constraints, I eventually ended up in a BSc. in Electronics, which proved to be a struggle due to my lack of interest.

Struggles and Setbacks

My father lost faith in my potential. Despite his hard work, I faced obstacles, such as missing out on the common entrance test for engineering again. It was back to square one; I opted for a BCA, followed by an MCA. During this time, I took up various jobs—selling credit cards, SIM cards, and working in back-office roles to support my education. Completing my degrees without a solid placement cell was challenging, and I soon found myself out in the job market.

I secured a position in HR Operations at Neeyamo, but fate had other plans when my mother’s health deteriorated. I had to choose between my job and caring for her, which ultimately led to the devastating loss of my mother in January 2018.

Rebuilding My Journey

With no immediate direction but the need to survive, I launched another job search and landed a back-office position at Infosys BPM. However, after 10 months in that role, my interest in development reignited. I decided to leave Infosys in December 2018 to focus on web development, spending time freelancing and helping my father with his carpentry work.

A Turning Point: Joining Angular Minds

In 2019, a turning point came when I learned about a company called Angular Minds through a friend, Bipin Singh. After reaching out, I was given an opportunity to interview—and to my surprise, I got the job! This marked the beginning of my journey into software development.

As an intern, I dived into JavaScript, Angular, and Node.js. Shortly after, our CEO organized a task competition for UI, and my quick completion of the challenge led to involvement in a live project for a client in Ukraine. Despite having no hands-on experience with the MEAN stack, I embraced resources like YouTube tutorials and sought guidance from my CEO and colleagues.

Becoming Part of the Community

During my journey, I discovered the Angular community. Attending Meetups & Hackathons nearby. While surfing for more Angular community & resources I came to know about conference event. Eager to learn but short on funds, I reached out to the organizer of the event. He suggested I should ask my company for support, but when I approached my CEO, I felt dismissed, which left me feeling disheartened.

Determined, I borrowed money to attend the event. That decision proved pivotal. I networked with speakers, gained immense motivation, and developed small projects to bolster my skills on GitHub. This engagement with the Angular community allowed me to learn and implement my knowledge, significantly enhancing my expertise.

Today and Beyond

Fast forward to now, I proudly work at HCLTech as a Senior Software Engineer, engaged in various projects primarily focusing on Angular as a front-end developer, alongside backend tasks involving C#.Net, Java APIs and Java Automation with Selenium testing. 🚀

I often tell my family and friends that I am a self-taught software engineer, from non-engineering college.

Reflecting on My Path

So here I am, reflecting on my journey. Was it my hard work alone that shaped my career, or was it destiny that guided me? Perhaps it’s a blend of both. Every challenge I faced ultimately shaped my determination to grow, learn, and succeed.

Thank you for reading and being part of my journey. If you relate to my story or have your own experience to share, I would love to hear it! After all, we’re all on our unique paths, learning and evolving together.

Inspiration: 

Mr. Santosh Yadav, an Angular GDE, MVP, India’s first GitHub star & Nx Champion

Much love! ❤️