My Journey from Student to Software Engineer

Looking back at my journey from a computer engineering student at Thapar Institute to working as a software engineer and eventually starting my own ventures, I wanted to share some insights and lessons learned along the way.

The Beginning

It all started during my time at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology. Like many engineering students, I was initially overwhelmed by the vast amount of technical knowledge I needed to acquire.

Key Milestones

1. First Internship: My internship at the Indian Army EME Unit taught me discipline and real-world problem solving
2. Hackathons: Participating in 21+ hackathons shaped my rapid prototyping skills
3. Industry Experience: Working at Evex Fitness gave me exposure to real production systems

Technical Growth

Programming Languages Journey

My progression through different technologies:

// Started with basics
console.log("Hello World");
 
// Moved to frameworks
import React from 'react';
import { useState } from 'react';
 
function MyComponent() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return <div>Count: {count}</div>;
}

Key Technologies I've Mastered

• Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript
• Backend: Node.js, Python, Golang
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL
• Cloud: AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes

Lessons Learned

1. Continuous Learning is Essential

The tech industry moves fast. What I learned:

• Stay updated with new technologies
• Build projects to solidify learning
• Join communities and contribute to open source

2. Problem-Solving Over Technology

Focus on solving real problems rather than just learning new frameworks.

3. Building in Public

Sharing your journey and projects publicly:

• Helps build an audience
• Creates accountability
• Opens up opportunities

Current Focus

Currently, I'm focused on:

1. Building SaaS Products: Creating solutions that solve real problems
2. Machine Learning: Exploring AI/ML applications in web development
3. Community Building: Sharing knowledge and helping other developers

Advice for Students

If you're a student or early in your career:

1. Build Projects: Theory is important, but practical experience is invaluable
2. Network: Attend meetups, hackathons, and connect with peers
3. Don't Fear Failure: Every failure is a learning opportunity
4. Stay Curious: Always ask "why" and "how can this be better?"

What's Next?

I'm excited about the future of web development, especially:

• AI Integration: How AI will transform how we build applications
• Edge Computing: Faster, more efficient web applications
• Web3: Decentralized applications and blockchain integration

The journey continues, and I'm grateful for every step that has led me here.

What's your journey been like? I'd love to hear about your experiences and lessons learned!