My Tech Journey

It all started with a simple thought back in 5th grade: “I want to work at Google”.

At the time, I had no idea what that really meant. I just knew Google was cool. Around that same time, I was also fascinated by Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg, how a college student built something so massive from his dorm room. It made me realize tech could change the world, and maybe, I wanted to be part of that too.

So, like any curious kid, I searched “how to get into Google”. The internet whispered back: “Learn to code”.

That was my first real glimpse into the tech world, one that would quietly shape my teenage years and beyond.

Of course, there was one small problem: I didn’t have a laptop. Or even a phone. So, I just observed. Waited. Dreamed.

Exploration Begins

By 8th grade, that early spark had evolved into something deeper. I started diving into different areas of tech: data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, ethical hacking, anything that sounded remotely exciting.

Though I still didn’t have a machine to code on, I was absorbing everything I could through articles, videos, and forums.

This was also when I became the unofficial “tech guy” in my friend group. Whether someone needed help fixing a setting, figuring out how an app worked, or making something tech-related “just work”, I was the one they called.

Even without hands-on experience, I had started building an identity around being “good with tech”. And that meant something to me.

The Dark Web

By 10th grade, I wasn’t just curious anymore, I was diving deep into the parts of tech most people never talk about.

That’s when I found the Dark Web.

It started with articles and videos, but soon enough I heard about the Tor Browser, a tool that provides access to a part of the internet that’s hidden from regular search engines.

I explored it , not just casually, but deeper than I probably should have.

I came across mentions of groups like Anonymous, not the memes or news clips, but real forums where people discussed ideas, sometimes chaotic, sometimes strategic.

I won’t get into the details because of obvious reasons, and honestly, some parts are better left unsaid. But this time showed me the internet isn’t just shiny apps and user-friendly websites. It’s a complex place, layered with light and shadow.

It made me realize tech isn’t just about building things, it’s about understanding power, privacy, and control.

During this time, I dug deeper into operating systems and computer networks to understand how data flows and is protected. I also explored privacy tools like VPN, password managers, and browser configurations that enhance security.

This phase gave me a clearer picture of how privacy works in practice, beyond just theory, and why it’s so important in today’s connected world.

Code in the Chaos

Between 10th and 12th grade, things got tough, not just academically, but personally. I went through a rough patch of depression that made everything harder. Motivation was scarce, and even small goals felt overwhelming.

But tech was a quiet refuge. When I finally got my own laptop in 11th grade, I started learning Python seriously, grappling with basics first, then moving onto libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. I also picked up MySQL to understand how data really works behind the scenes.

Even with the ups and downs, this period laid the foundation of my technical skills. The struggles made the progress slower, but every little step counted.

The University Chapter: Finding My Flow

Starting university was a whole new experience. I was excited but also pretty uncomfortable. The new environment, the crowd, the different pace, it all felt overwhelming at first. I didn’t really feel like I belonged right away and struggled to find my place.

Because of that, I could only do C++ and some basics algorithms in my first semester. I wasn’t able to dive deeper or push myself much beyond that while I was still figuring things out.

But in the second semester, things started to change. I found my rhythm. I began grinding Data Structures & Algorithms daily on LeetCode, and once I got comfortable with linear data structures, I started learning Web Development and Competitive Programming alongside it.

That period was the first time I felt truly consistent and in sync with my learning. It was a small shift, but it made all the difference.

Building in Public and Finding Community

I started sharing my journey on X. It was my way of documenting what I was learning, my small wins, roadblocks, and the messy in-betweens.

Over time, I began connecting with people who genuinely resonated with what I was sharing. Some were way ahead in their careers, others were just getting started, but all of them brought something valuable to the table.

Through these interactions, I found myself part of a small but growing community, one filled with learners, builders, and creators who genuinely want to support each other. At the time of writing this, I’ve over 1,000 followers, and it’s not the number that excites me, but the kind of people I’ve met along the way.

What’s been especially fulfilling is when juniors and beginners reach out, asking for advice, whether it’s about web development, data structures & algorithms, or competitive programming. Being able to help someone, even in small ways, reminds me of how far I’ve come and how much I still want to grow.

This community is still taking shape, but it already feels like something meaningful, a space where we all show up, learn from each other, and keep moving forward together.

The journey is far from over, and while the path ahead is uncertain, I’m excited to keep learning, building, and sharing, wherever this tech adventure takes me next.