My Journey into Tech: Not Exactly a Dream, But Still Mine

When people talk about working in tech, it often sounds like a highlight reel — exciting projects, endless growth, modern offices, and salaries that make your eyes widen. And maybe that’s the story for some. But for me, it was different. It still is.

I started studying computer science at university full of hope. I loved the idea of creating things through logic, of solving real-world problems with just a keyboard and some stubbornness. But the reality of the program hit hard. It was exhausting. The pace was brutal, and some of the professors seemed less interested in teaching and more in testing how far we could bend before breaking. They’d throw impossible assignments at us and mock us when we didn’t get it right the first time. I lost count of how many nights I sat in front of my screen, thinking about quitting. Just dropping everything and walking away.

But I didn’t. I stayed. Maybe out of pride, maybe out of sheer momentum. But I finished.

Then came the job search.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but nothing prepared me for the constant wave of rejection. “Not enough experience.” But I just graduated — how am I supposed to have experience if no one gives me a chance? Sometimes there wasn’t even a reason. Just silence. Other times, I got to the final round, only to be told I wasn’t quite what they were looking for. I started questioning everything. Was I even good enough to be in this field?

And yet, it wasn’t always about them rejecting me. I had to say no too. A few companies offered jobs that looked okay on paper, but when I asked questions, the red flags piled up fast — salaries far below market, no mentorship, workloads that clearly needed three people. Some even advertised one thing and presented another during interviews. I didn’t want to start my career already burned out.

There were months when I didn’t work in tech at all. I took whatever I could find to cover rent and groceries. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary. And during that time, I still coded. Still read. Still tried to stay close to what I had worked so hard for.

Eventually, something changed. A small company reached out — nothing flashy, no big promises. But the people were kind. The questions they asked made sense. The salary wasn’t huge, but it was fair. And the work? Challenging, but doable. I took the job.

It’s still early, and I don’t pretend that everything’s perfect now. But there’s a quiet stability I hadn’t felt in years. I wake up, log in, and feel like I belong — not because I’m brilliant or flawless, but because I’m trying, learning, contributing.

If you’re reading this and going through your own messy beginning — know that you’re not alone. Tech can be hard, not just because of the code, but because of the people, the systems, the expectations. But it’s okay to stumble. It’s okay to take your time. You don’t have to be the next big thing overnight.

I’m not there yet. Maybe I never will be. But I’m here. And for now, that’s enough.

— Aria