I just wanted to share a bit of my journey, for anyone who’s trying to move into development but feels like they’re going in circles.
When I started learning DSA and system design, I did what most of us do I turned to YouTube, free courses, blogs, etc. And while those resources are definitely helpful to some extent I always felt like something was missing.
The biggest issue for me was that I started feeling platforms are static. There was no one to talk to when I was stuck no one to explain why my approach isn’t working, and then I started feeling if I am even learning things in the right order. Every time I hit a roadblock whether it was a DSA problem I couldn’t solve or a concept that just didn’t click and I’d get frustrated. Eventually, I’d just close the laptop and stop. And that would go on for weeks.
That’s honestly one of the biggest reasons I decided to join Scaler. I needed structure but more importantly I needed support.
Joining Scaler wasn’t a magical shortcut. I still had to put in the effort, stay consistent, and show up every day.
The way Scaler teaches DSA and system design made things feel a lot more manageable. All the concepts were broken down step by step, and more than that there was a proper flow to it. I wasn’t just watching random videos or picking topics at random anymore.
But what really helped me stay consistent was the Teaching Assistant support. I can’t emphasize this enough just knowing that someone was available almost any time of the day to clear my doubts. No question felt too small or silly.
By the time my placement season started, I had built up not just skills but confidence. I had done mock interviews, worked on projects and I understood the concepts clearly. And the crazy part? I hardly remember any week during that time when I wasn’t giving interviews.
This journey has taught me that investing in yourself is never a bad idea. You just need the right environment to grow.