Every journey has a beginning. Mine started with a second-hand laptop, a little curiosity, and a passion I didn't know would eventually shape my identity.

My first encounter with technology began around the age of 13, when I started exploring SQL on my father's laptop. But if someone asks when I truly fell in love with technology, I would say it was around the age of 14, during the pandemic.

One of my biggest inspirations has always been my father, a 45-year-old tech enthusiast and Scrum Master with 26 years of experience in the IT industry. Watching his passion for technology, the way he approached problems, and his enthusiasm for learning made me curious about the world he was part of.

Without realizing it, technology slowly became more than just an interest. It became my confidence.

Where It All Began

With a 12-year-old second-hand laptop, I started exploring the world of programming. My first step towards structured learning was through Kaggle, where I began learning Python.

I still remember the excitement of understanding a concept, writing a program independently, and seeing it work. Those little moments felt special.

The appreciation I received from others for my coding skills, along with scoring a centum in Computer Science, gave me the confidence to explore further.

I chose Computer Science as my major in higher secondary education and built my first banking system using Python and SQL. It wasn't a sophisticated application, but it was my first experience turning an idea into something functional.

That was when I realized I didn't just want to use technology. I wanted to build with it.

Turning Passion into Progress

Choosing Computer Engineering was a natural continuation of that journey. Now in my second year, currently navigating my third semester, I continue to explore different areas of technology.

I've invested time in learning programming, exploring AI and Data Science, completing technical certifications, and building projects that help me understand how technology solves real-world problems.

One memorable milestone was participating in DATASPHERE '26, where my team secured fourth place by developing a healthcare-focused solution.

Beyond academics, I wanted to challenge myself through collaboration and leadership. I joined IEEE and currently serve as Secretary of the IEEE Computer Society Student Branch Chapter.

Being involved in organizing 12 consecutive technical events, contributing to student initiatives, and receiving the Luminary Award for my achievements during my first year have been meaningful parts of my journey.

I also completed an online AI internship through IBM SkillsBuild, which gave me additional exposure to the field.

Each experience taught me something different. Some strengthened my technical knowledge, while others helped me develop communication, teamwork, leadership, and confidence.

But Am I Keeping Up?

Here comes the part that makes this journey more personal.

We are living in a time when technology evolves incredibly fast. Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we write code, develop applications, solve problems, and even think about the future of software engineering.

As someone entering this industry, I often find myself wondering:

• Am I learning enough to stay relevant?
• Are my technical skills strong enough for the industry?
• How do I distinguish myself in a world where AI can accomplish so much?
• Am I building the right things at the right time?

Despite the projects, certifications, achievements, and experiences, one thing I am still working towards is securing my first paid, onsite internship.

Sometimes, seeing others move ahead makes me question where I stand and what I might be missing.

But I am learning that professional growth isn't always a straight line. Achievements don't automatically translate into opportunities, and having a passion for technology doesn't mean the journey will always be easy.

Perhaps this is where the real learning begins.

Learning to Evolve, Not Just Survive

I don't want to compete with AI. I want to understand it, work with it, and learn how to build meaningful solutions using it.

I believe programming fundamentals, logical thinking, problem-solving, curiosity, and the ability to adapt will continue to matter.

I want to become someone who doesn't simply depend on tools but understands the technology behind them.

There is still so much I want to explore, so many problems I want to solve, and so many things I haven't learned yet.

I may not have figured out every step of my career, and I am still searching for that first onsite internship, but I haven't lost the curiosity that started this journey.

Technology gave me confidence when I was young. Today, it gives me a reason to keep challenging myself.

I am still learning. Still building. Still experimenting. Still figuring things out.

And perhaps that's what being part of the technology world is all about.

This is not a success story with a perfect ending. It is an ongoing journey of someone who is still figuring out where she belongs in technology, one line of code at a time.