This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Retro’ing and Debugging 2024.
Hi everyone! I’m Divya, a current M.Tech student at a tier-3 college. The past year has been a whirlwind of ups and downs, marked by a major shift in my career path from MBA to tech(back to it again). Let me take you through my journey in 2024, one quarter at a time— each quarter a separate season with its own challenges and lessons.
1st Quarter – January to March 🎓👩🏻💼🥲
The year started with high hopes as I eagerly awaited my CAT results, dreaming of getting into one of my target IIMs. I threw myself into interview preparations, brimming with excitement about the possibilities ahead. However, reality hit hard when I found out I hadn’t made it to my dream IIM. Although I received admission offers in other IIMs, it wasn't what I wanted.
This marked the end of a seven-month journey filled with hopes and dreams of pursuing an MBA from my dream IIM college. It was a tough pill to swallow, but it also set the stage for me to return back to tech.
2nd Quarter – April to June 👩🏻💻🐍🤝🏻
This quarter was a time of deep reflection, contemplation, and moving forward. Disappointed but determined, I decided to focus on rebuilding myself and move forward in tech. I took on Replit’s 100 Days of Code - The Complete Python Course challenge, focusing on Python to rekindle my coding consistency and mindset. I chose this challenge due to two reasons- it's a long one, and also Python is a relatively easier language. To my surprise, I completed this challenge in just 45 days!
This milestone reignited my passion for programming and gave me the confidence to take on new challenges, especially in Python. During this time, I also grew my following on X, gaining over 500 followers and forming amazing friendships that made this journey even more special.
3rd Quarter – July to September 👩🏻💻🤒💔
The momentum from the second quarter carried me into The Odin Project, where I completed the Intermediate HTML and CSS part. However, life threw me a curveball when I had to start my M.Tech program. The adjustment was tough, and my productivity took a hit as I fell ill thrice during this quarter.
Despite the setbacks, I explored generative AI and worked on a couple of projects using Python. Yet, deployment woes unraveled the threads of my bond with Python. What once felt like a symphony of logic now echoed as a hollow refrain, an empty shell of its vibrant past.
4th Quarter – October to December ✨🚀☺️
The final quarter of the year brought a renewed sense of purpose. I completed three good-level projects in generative AI using JavaScript and the Gemini AI API.
1) A workout planner
2) Web Development Study Plan Guide
One of my proudest moments was participating in my first-ever hackathon by Codedex.io- Mini Holiday Hackathon, where I created a nostalgic 90s-themed portfolio.
December brought with itself yet another challenge — the Frontend Challenge: December Edition on Dev.to.
Check out my projects here:-
1) Winter Themed Greeting- CSS Version
3) Winter Solstice Web: A Winter Solistice-Inspired Webpage
Also, I made a simple but lovely project incredibly proud of, and which I've wanted to make for a long time- A Beating Heart Project.
I also took time to reflect on my interests in data analytics. While it’s a fascinating field, I realized it might not be my true calling. This quarter, more than any other, felt like a fresh start, filled with small victories that helped me regain my confidence.
Looking Back
2024 was a year of transformation. It started with the heartbreak of not getting into my dream IIM, but it led me back to tech, where I rediscovered my passion for coding. From falling in love with Python to exploring generative AI and participating in hackathons, this year was all about growth, resilience, and embracing change.
I made incredible connections, completed exciting projects, and challenged myself in ways I never thought possible. This rollercoaster of a year has taught me that every setback is just a setup for a stronger comeback. I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for me.
So, that's it!
If you're still here, Thank you for still being here 🙏🏻.
Please share your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions in the comment section below 🗨️
Top comments (3)
Inspiring journey
Not only you learnt new technologies but also created projects in them
🔥
Thank you K Om ☺️
Awesome Work, Miss Div! Impressive journey from one chapter to the next. Even when disappointment tried to knock you down, you handled it with grace. You didn’t let anything hold you back - kept rising, kept shining. Your resilience is inspiring! Keep pushing, the best is yet to come!
The moral I take from this: It’s not about avoiding setbacks; it’s about how you rise after them.