How I Got Here
A path built on curiosity, consistency, and shipping real things.
The Lab That Started Everything
Higher secondary school had a computer lab I never owned. Watching others create things on machines I didn't have at home lit something in me. I started visiting the lab, asking questions, understanding the basics — not because I had to, but because I couldn't stop wondering.
Degree — Where Interest Became Direction
Enrolled in a degree program and things got more interesting. The deeper I went, the more I wanted to build. But the momentum was about to be interrupted by something nobody saw coming.
Corona Hit — And I Had to Drop Out
COVID moved everything online. Labs moved to screens I didn't own — no PC, no laptop. I couldn't keep up with a practical curriculum without the tools to practice. Dropping out wasn't giving up, it was surviving. But it stung.
Graphic Design — Chosen, Not Forced
Society expected a job-hopping certificate course. I chose graphic design because I was actually interested in it. While others questioned the choice, I was learning how to think visually — a skill that would later shape how I approach UI and product decisions.
First Laptop — Everything Changed
Getting my first laptop wasn't just a purchase, it was access. I went back to coding immediately — but this time skipped Turbo C++ and opened VS Code. Tried JavaScript. Something clicked. For the first time, coding felt like mine.
- Day 1 opened VS Code
First React Project — A Dish Listing App
Built my first real project in React — a dish listing app. The logic worked but the UI was rough. I struggled with design and layout. It wasn't perfect, but it was mine and it ran. That mattered more than anything.
- 1st project shipped
MERN Stack — Found My Real Home
Tried MERN Stack almost on a whim. It clicked in a way nothing else had. I built project after project — APIs, servers, full stacks. This was where I stopped doubting and started believing I could actually do this for a living.
- 5+ personal projects
Ethical Hacking Curiosity — A Brief Detour
Stumbled across ethical hacking while searching for opportunities. The idea fascinated me — tools like Nmap, security, penetration testing. Explored it for a while and realised this world existed alongside software.
Ethical Hacking Course in Calicut — Not My Cup of Tea
Enrolled in a course in Calicut specifically for ethical hacking. Heavy fees, heavy curriculum, and an honest realization — this wasn't my path. Leaving wasn't failure, it was clarity. I knew what I didn't want, and that's just as valuable.
Back to MERN Stack — First Real Network
A friend recommended an institute. I went back to what I loved. This time something new happened — I found people who were just as obsessed with full stack as I was. Engineers debating architecture at lunch. Enthusiasts who stayed late not because they had to. My first real tech network was built here.
- 12 mo intensive training
- 6+ projects shipped
First Job @ Neutrinos — Better Than Expected
Everyone warned me about corporate toxicity and blame culture. I walked in nervous. Instead I found a manager and team that focused on growth. Shipped REST APIs, automated insurance policy lifecycles, and handled production incidents. The job was real, and so was the learning.
- SDE 1 first role
- 99.9% API uptime
First Hike — 30% When I Expected 8%
I'd been conditioned to expect the usual 8–9% corporate increment. Got 30%. It wasn't just money — it was a signal. I had been underestimating my own potential. That number made me recalibrate everything I thought I was worth.
- 30% salary hike
- 3× expected increment
Onsite Visit — Beyond the Casual Developer
Got selected for an onsite visit. Stepped out from behind the keyboard into real conversations with stakeholders and architects. Saw core systems and design decisions up close. Realised I wasn't just a developer executing tickets — I could understand and contribute to the bigger picture.
- 2× company awards
Feeling the Repetition — Same Loop for 2 Years
Two years in. The work started feeling familiar in the wrong way. Same patterns, same problems, same ceiling. It wasn't burnout — it was clarity. I had outgrown the loop. And recognising that was the beginning of real growth.
- 2 yrs at same company
Resigned from Neutrinos — The Hardest Click
Made the call. Submitted the resignation. No backup offer, no guaranteed next step. Just a decision rooted in knowing I needed more than what staying could give. Some decisions are scary precisely because they're right.
The Break — Not Rest, But Rebuilding
Took a deliberate break before jumping to the next role. Not to sleep in — but to rebuild. Deep-dived into MERN Stack internals, system design patterns, and DevOps fundamentals. Earned certifications in Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, and Claude Code. This break is an investment.
- 3 certifications earned
- 2026 all issued this year
Looking for the Right Organisation
Not just another job. Looking for an organisation where the work is meaningful, the team is sharp, and there's real room to grow. The next step has to matter — not just pay.
Still Grinding
Every day. No shortcuts. The story isn't finished.