Hope Was Distant, But I’m Still Here

This is a submission for the WeCoded Challenge: Echoes of Experience

A Glimpse Into My Journey

I'm a girl pursuing my MTech at a tier 3 engineering college in India, having completed my BTech in 2023. A web developer at heart, I once used to dream big—only to watch those dreams drift away, swallowed by the harsh realities of life 🙂.

CHALLENGES FACED

I wasn’t always a star student. As a child, I wasn’t very invested in academics, and my parents once mentioned they’d rather see me married off than pursue higher studies (which, at the time, they considered a reasonable path and perhaps it even was). But starting in 7th grade, something shifted—I began to excel, and for a while, hope shone bright. Yet the brightest moments were followed by harsh realities. In 12th grade, after qualifying for JEE Advanced—a monumental achievement—I was crushed when my 12th-grade scores didn’t let me sit for the exam. That blow left me reeling and uncertain about my future.

I ended up in a tier 3 college, where coding felt like deciphering an alien language. With the COVID pandemic and a recession looming, worries about classes, jobs, and life itself became overwhelming. At my lowest, I questioned everything. Maybe I should just learn house chores, cook, clean, and fit into the mold of a "good housewife." Maybe it was easier to settle for a life that never truly felt like mine.

TRIUMPHS CELEBRATED

During my second year in BTech, in the midst of COVID, I discovered a deep love for web development that never left me. Fast forward to 2025, during my MTech journey, I finally embraced that passion by diving into hackathons for the first time. A Python challenge boosted my self-confidence so much that I felt almost invincible—like I could build anything with Python, Google, and a whole lot of trial and error! 😎

Winning a hackathon with Agent.ai became an unforgettable milestone. It was my 4th hackathon experience, and I was juggling multiple projects, video demos, and writing articles in just a couple of days—all while preparing for my end-sem exams. It was wild, but I did it! That triumph not only reaffirmed my inner strength but also rekindled my passion for coding.

LESSONS LEARNED

I learned not to give a fuck about the negativity and to be consistent, no matter how hard things got. I learned to laugh at my own mishaps (seriously, I could fill a stand-up routine with them 😂) and, most importantly, to keep building even when the world seemed against me. I learned to believe—in God, in myself, and in the hope that one day my parents will be proud of the path I chose.

INSIGHTS GAINED

I’ve discovered that anything truly worthy takes time, effort, heartbreak, sweat, tears, and endless determination. I’ve come so far and worked too hard to turn back now. I dream of conquering challenges and making my family proud—showing my future children that their mum once fought hard for her dreams, even if it wasn’t always pretty.

OTHER INSPIRING JOURNEYS

There are countless paths in this world, and I’m not alone in facing the challenges of carving out a future in tech.

• A Girl on X: A young woman who completed her BCA didn’t let that define her limits. She embarked on a year-long daily coding challenge, sticking to it with unwavering commitment. Her hard work led her to landing a remote job opportunity—and she didn’t stop there. With sheer persistence, she earned a promotion and transformed her career, proving that dedication and consistency can open unexpected doors.

• A Boy on a Mission: There’s also a young man who tackles every day with relentless determination. Despite juggling job tasks and endless meetings, he solves DSA problems like a pro. In just a month, he earned certifications in AWS and DevOps, and even took on a fun challenge—completing a Java, Go, and Python LeetCode 150 DSA challenge. Now, he’s working hard for his dream: landing a job at Google’s London headquarters. His story is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.

EMPOWERING OTHERS AND EDUCATING ALLIES

I shared these stories in the hope that it inspires other underrepresented individuals to speak up and chase their dreams, even when the journey is messy and unpredictable. And to my allies out there, this is a peek behind the scenes—a real, sometimes chaotic journey where every setback is met with a stubborn refusal to give up. Let’s build a tech community where every voice, no matter how quiet at first, can eventually roar! 💪🏼

FINAL THOUGHTS

I don’t know exactly where I’ll be in five years, but I know this—I won’t stop. I will fight, build, break, and rebuild as many times as it takes. And one day, I’ll look back at this chaotic, beautiful mess and know: I made it.

If you're still here—thank you for taking the time to read my story! I truly hope it can offer comfort or guidance to someone out there, because disappointment, guilt, and imposter syndrome are battles that many of us face.

Have some stories of your own, or perhaps some feedback for me? Let's keep the discussion going in the comments section below 🗨️