Starting Small, Aiming Big

I’ve always been fascinated by how engineers at top companies solve problems — how they think, how they prepare, and how they approach complexity with clarity. Over the past few weeks, I decided to stop just being curious and actually start building my own path toward that level of skill.

This blog marks the beginning of that journey.

Laying the Foundation

So far, I’ve focused on mastering the basics and developing good problem-solving habits. Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve done so far:

• Data Structures: Arrays, strings, hash tables — learned the fundamentals and solved problems that forced me to think in edge cases.

• C++ Basics: Started brushing up C++ to start solving LeetCode problems more confidently, focusing on writing clean syntax and becoming more familiar with the STL.

• Mock Interviews: Practiced under pressure and reflected on what tripped me up.

• Research: Watched videos from Google engineers, mock interviews, and breakdowns of what makes a great solution great.

• Reflection: After every session, I have written down what I learned, what went wrong, and how I can get 1% better next time.

Why I’m Doing This

This blog is where I’ll document my grind — not just to keep myself accountable, but to sharpen my communication and improve my technical writing along the way. If you’re on a similar path, maybe something I learn will help you too.

What you can expect from this space:

• Bite-sized reflections from my daily LeetCode practice

• Breakdowns of problems I found challenging or eye-opening

• Lessons learned from building problem-solving habits and technical depth

• How I’m structuring my days to balance consistency, depth, and sanity

The Bigger Plan

I’m currently working through a structured plan focused on:

• Solving DSA problems daily (prioritizing patterns over volume)

• Building mastery in C++ and system-level thinking

• Improving problem-solving under pressure through timed practice

• Sharpening communication through mock interviews and writing

• Making learning fun and sustainable while staying sane by keeping up with my hobbies and health ( reading, gym, runs, etc.)

What's Next

• Mastering recursion, linked lists, and pointers

• Revisiting sorting and sliding window problems

• Writing deep dives into LeetCode patterns I’ve struggled with

• Staying consistent — even when motivation dips

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If you're on a similar grind, drop a comment or follow along. I’m in this for the long haul — one step at a time.