I’m just a simple guy from Nepal, someone with an average academic record and a big dream of becoming a full-stack developer. But in the beginning, I was completely lost. I didn’t know which tech stacks to focus on, and my lack of direction made me jump from course to course, learning multiple programming languages without completing any of them.
As time passed, my constant efforts to build skills without seeing results pushed me into depression. I began doubting my abilities and even considered giving up on my studies. In desperation, I decided to pursue a different path—I started studying the Korean language, thinking I might work in Korea.
For three months, I poured my energy into learning Korean. Then, my teacher shattered my plans by telling me that I wouldn’t pass the color vision test required for the job. That day, I felt like my world had come crashing down. I was left questioning my purpose, convinced that I would never achieve anything meaningful in life.
A Turning Point
In the midst of my despair, a college senior approached me with an invitation to a tech meet. He told me it would be a great opportunity to network with professionals from the tech industry. As an introvert, the idea terrified me. I wasn’t comfortable meeting new people, let alone speaking in public. But something inside me told me to take the leap.
At the event, the organizer encouraged participants to share their insights on the tech stacks they were working on and the challenges they faced. At first, no one volunteered. That’s when my senior nudged me to speak. Nervously, I stood up in front of over 30 people, completely unprepared, and introduced myself.
With a shaky voice, I explained how I was exploring various tech stacks but felt utterly confused about the right path to pursue industry-level skills. I wasn’t sure how I managed to speak, but I did. My face turned bright red, and my heart pounded the entire time. But I was proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone.
A Life-Changing Call
The next day, I received a call that would change my life. It was from a software engineer who had attended the tech meet. He shared that he had faced similar struggles early in his career and offered to guide me.
He not only empathized with my situation but also proposed a remote internship with his company. He promised to mentor me, providing a clear roadmap to develop industry-relevant skills. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I accepted his offer.
Guidance That Changed Everything
This mentor introduced me to the concept of T-shaped learning—gaining deep expertise in one domain while having broad knowledge of others. Under his guidance, I began focusing on fundamentals like OOP, design patterns, system architecture, and service lifetimes.
Balancing my college studies, household responsibilities, and skill development wasn’t easy. I had to work tirelessly, often sacrificing sleep. Despite the challenges, I kept moving forward.
When my exams clashed with my project deadlines, I requested an extension, which he kindly granted. But after my exams, I realized I had forgotten many of the concepts I had worked so hard to learn. That setback shook my confidence. Yet, I refused to give up. I pushed myself for another two months and finally completed my project.
When I presented it to him, he pointed out areas for improvement and gave me actionable feedback. With his continued support, I gradually became more confident in my abilities.
A New Chapter
During this period, my college announced a crash course on full-stack development. Excitedly, I enrolled, only to discover that the mentor leading the course was the same person who had been guiding me all along! Learning directly from him in a structured environment was a golden opportunity.
Around the same time, I secured a job as a junior data analyst at a secondary school. Balancing work, studies, and skill development became even harder. My fifth-semester finals loomed, and I struggled to manage my time. The pressure was immense, and I often felt like giving up.
But I kept going, driven by the knowledge that my actions mattered. After countless sleepless nights, working 10 to 12 hours a day, I received a message that made it all worthwhile—I was offered an internship at his company.
Revealing the Heroes
The senior who urged me to speak up at the tech meet was Abhisek Adhikari, a person who believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. And the mentor who guided me through this transformative journey was Ramesh Shrestha, a software engineer whose kindness and wisdom changed my life forever.
The Biggest Lesson
2024 was a year of transformation. From feeling lost and defeated to finding clarity and purpose, I learned that your actions have the power to change your life. Through discipline, resilience, and the right guidance, I turned my struggles into stepping stones.
As I step into 2025, I do so with a renewed sense of determination. The journey won’t be easy, but I’m ready to face every challenge with the same grit and passion. To anyone reading this: never stop believing in yourself, and never stop working toward your dreams.
Here’s to a year of growth, learning, and conquering new heights!
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