From Curiosity to Confidence

My journey into engineering was anything but straightforward.

In 2021, after my JEE Main results, I initially took admission in Purnia College of Engineering (PCE) in the Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) branch. A few months later, in November 2021, I joined Motihari College of Engineering (MCE) and started a new chapter of my life.

Unlike many students who begin coding in college, I already had some exposure to C, C++, and MERN Stack development, particularly up to React.js. However, after entering college, I slowed down for a while. Most of my classmates were just beginning their programming journey, and I never developed much interest in traditional DSA-focused preparation. What genuinely excited me was building products, creating solutions, and seeing ideas come to life.

Everything started changing after my third semester.

My first breakthrough came through an internship at ATPLC, where I got the opportunity to apply my React.js knowledge in real-world projects. For the first time, I experienced software development beyond tutorials and classroom assignments. It taught me how real products are built and how teams collaborate to solve practical problems.

A major turning point arrived when our seniors founded ZERO ONE Coding Club.

I became one of the club's core members and had the opportunity to contribute to one of the most impactful projects of my college life: building the ZERO ONE website and its admin panel using Next.js.

This experience completely changed the way I looked at technology.

More than the technical skills, it gave me confidence.

I realized that successful developers are not the ones who know everything, but the ones who are willing to learn anything. Whenever I faced a challenge, I discovered that someone, somewhere on the internet had already shared knowledge that could help me solve it. From that moment onward, I stopped being afraid of unfamiliar technologies and started believing that if I can imagine a solution, I can build it.

The club experience also exposed me to teamwork, system design, deployment, scalability, product thinking, and ownership. These were lessons I could never have acquired from a tutorial alone.

Later, I joined another startup initiative founded by one of my batchmates, where I worked on multilingual web applications. Once again, I found myself learning concepts that were completely new to me. Every project expanded my perspective and pushed me outside my comfort zone.

During this period, our seniors were creating an inspiring legacy. Many secured placements in companies like TCS, while others excelled in GATE, including one remarkable senior who achieved AIR 76. Their achievements motivated our batch to dream bigger and work harder.

However, when our placement season arrived in 2025, the situation had changed dramatically.

Although students prepared rigorously and performed well in interviews, opportunities were significantly fewer than before. Placement outcomes were disappointing across the batch despite sincere efforts. It was a difficult reality, but it also taught us one of the most important professional lessons:

The market may not always be in your favor, but your preparation must remain in your control.

After graduation, I moved to Bengaluru and joined QSpiders through their training program. Soon, I realized that the opportunities available there did not align with my long-term aspirations. Taking a risk, I left the program and began searching for jobs independently.

The following months tested my patience more than any exam ever had.

I applied through platforms like Wellfound, Naukri, LinkedIn, and many others. Most applications received no response. Rejection and silence became common.

Eventually, I received an opportunity from GoSwift, a fast-growing logistics and supply chain technology company. After successfully clearing multiple interview rounds, I joined the organization. However, due to concerns around work-life balance, I decided to move on shortly after joining.

At the time, it felt like another setback.

Looking back, it was simply a redirection.

A few months later, I received an opportunity through a consultancy hiring process for a React.js + Node.js Developer role at Société Générale Global Solution Centre, the technology and operations arm of the French banking group Société Générale.

After successfully clearing every stage of the process, I joined the organization and began the next chapter of my professional journey.

Today, when I reflect on everything from changing colleges, building products with ZERO ONE, working with startups, facing placement challenges, relocating to Bengaluru, leaving opportunities that didn't fit, and finally finding my place in the industry, one lesson stands out above all:

Growth is rarely a straight line. The journey is full of uncertainty, rejection, and difficult decisions. What matters is continuing to learn, adapt, and move forward.

Every challenge shaped me into a better engineer, and every setback prepared me for an opportunity I had not yet seen.

Key Insights

• Real-world projects teach lessons that tutorials cannot.
• Confidence comes from solving problems, not from knowing everything beforehand.
• Consistency is more important than short bursts of motivation.
• Building products and working in teams accelerates learning significantly.
• Rejections are a normal part of the journey and often lead to better opportunities.
• Skills gained from internships, clubs, and side projects can be as valuable as classroom learning.
• Networking with seniors, peers, and mentors can open unexpected opportunities.
• Adaptability is one of the most important qualities in the technology industry.

Advice for Future Students

1. Start building projects as early as possible. Projects teach practical skills and help you stand out.
2. Do not compare your progress with others. Everyone's journey is different.
3. Participate in communities, clubs, and technical events. The learning opportunities are immense.
4. Internships, even small ones, can provide valuable industry exposure.
5. Don't wait to feel fully prepared before applying for opportunities. Apply, learn, and improve through the process.
6. Develop problem-solving skills, but also focus on building real products.
7. Accept that rejections are part of the journey. Learn from them and keep moving forward.
8. Be willing to take calculated risks when opportunities do not align with your goals.
9. Keep learning continuously because technology evolves rapidly.
10. Most importantly, believe in your ability to learn anything. You do not need to know every answer today; you only need the willingness to find them.