Learning, Failing, and Rising Again: The Story of My 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my journey this year—a year that has been filled with challenges, learning, growth, and perseverance. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, and today, I want to share my personal story of how I transitioned into DevOps, learned from my failures, and found my way into the tech industry.

The Beginning: A Dream Deferred

The excitement started by the end of 2023. After clearing four rigorous rounds of interviews, I was selected as a Software Tester in a company based in Pune. The feeling of securing a job and becoming financially independent was truly special. It felt like I had finally found a solid footing in my career.

However, things didn’t go as planned. The company, which had initially offered me the position, delayed my joining date not once, not twice, but three times throughout 2023. After these delays, in February 2024, they finally revoked the offer. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. 😔

But that disappointment became the catalyst for change.

A New Path: Entering the World of DevOps

I knew I couldn’t just sit back and let this setback define me. I had to find a way forward. That’s when I decided to learn something new. Something that could build a strong foundation for my career and open up more opportunities for me. And that’s how I stumbled upon DevOps.

At that time, I didn’t know much about DevOps. Coming from a Tier 3 college, I had never been exposed to this concept. Companies typically expect experienced professionals in this domain, not freshers like me. But I didn’t let that deter me. I bought an affordable ₹500 online course and decided to dive in.

The Struggles and the Doubts

Learning DevOps wasn’t easy. It’s a vast field with a wide array of tools, practices, and concepts to master. But I persisted. For the next 4-5 months, I immersed myself in the course material and worked on hands-on projects. I started learning tools like Docker, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Terraform, Prometheus, Grafana, and more. As the months passed, I gained more confidence, but there was always that looming question: “Can I really make a career in this?”

In December 2023, I felt ready to start interviewing. My first interview experience, however, was a disaster. I couldn’t answer most of the questions, and it left me questioning my abilities. “Am I cut out for DevOps? Can I even succeed in this field?” These thoughts were hard to shake off, and I found myself feeling demotivated. It was tough to see others, who already had jobs, enjoying their weekends while I was still jobless, struggling to find a way forward.

The Turning Point: Embracing the Journey

I realized that I had two choices: I could either give up or keep going. After spending a day reflecting, I made the decision to keep going. I knew I had to go deeper, learn the core concepts more thoroughly, and get hands-on experience with as many DevOps tools as I could.

I didn’t just focus on theory; I practiced as much as I could. Whether it was setting up continuous integration pipelines, deploying applications on Kubernetes, or automating infrastructure with Terraform, I dove in headfirst.

But things weren’t easy. I kept failing. I would clear L1 interviews, then L2, but I always stumbled at L3. It was incredibly frustrating, but I knew each failure was a step towards improvement. With every interview, I was learning, growing, and getting better at answering the technical questions.

A Breakthrough: My First Internship

After several attempts and countless lessons learned from my failures, I got my first break. In February 2024, I landed a DevOps internship where I worked on live projects. This experience was a game-changer. I finally got to apply everything I had learned in a real-world setting. I was exposed to tools like Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, and Jenkins, and I worked alongside an amazing team that helped me grow further.

By July 2024, I had gained enough experience to switch companies, and today, I’m working in a startup in Hyderabad as a DevOps engineer. I continue to learn and grow every single day. 🚀

Lessons Learned

2024 was a year of growth, both professionally and personally. DevOps is a vast ocean, and every day feels like there’s something new to learn. But the most valuable lesson I learned this year is the importance of resilience.

When I started this journey, I was unsure if I would make it. There were times when I doubted myself, times when I failed, and times when I thought about quitting. But every failure led to new insights, and each setback brought me closer to success.

I’ve realized that failure is a necessary part of the journey. It’s not something to fear, but something to embrace. Every time I failed, I learned something new that helped me become better.

The Road Ahead: Looking to 2025

As I look forward to 2025, I am excited to continue my DevOps journey. There’s so much more to learn, so many more tools to master, and endless possibilities to explore. But beyond that, I aim to focus on my health, travel, and experiencing life. 🌍

I hope that 2025 will be a year of even greater growth, not only as a DevOps engineer but also as a person.

Gratitude: A Special Thanks

I wouldn’t be here today without the help of the countless YouTubers and virtual teachers who shared their knowledge with the world. Their selflessness in creating content and explaining complex concepts helped me during this journey. They were my virtual mentors, and I am deeply grateful for their guidance. 🙏

Takeaway:

To anyone out there struggling, remember this: The journey is not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Keep pushing, keep learning, and remember that failure is not the end—it’s just another step towards your success.

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