From Village Dreams to Virtual Machines: My Journey as a Software Engineer

I was born in a small village where dreams are often limited to what’s visible around you—farmlands, tea stalls, small shops, or jobs in the Middle East. No one talked about coding. In fact, most people in my village didn’t even know what a software engineer was.

But even as a child, I was different.

I was curious—about machines, about electricity, about how things worked. I remember the first time I saw a computer. It was at a small internet café in the city, during a visit to my cousin’s house. I didn’t know how to use it, but I stared at the glowing screen like it was magic. That moment stuck with me. I didn’t know how, but I wanted to be someone who could create things on that screen.

The Dream Nobody Understood

When I told people I wanted to study Software Engineering, most didn’t take it seriously.

“Why don’t you learn a trade?” some said.

“IT is too hard. You need money for that,” others warned.

I didn’t argue. I just smiled.

Deep down, I knew this dream wasn’t going to be easy. I didn’t have access to expensive coaching centers. I didn’t have fast internet. I didn’t even have my own computer for a long time. But what I did have was curiosity and determination.

I believed that if others could do it, so could I.

Entering a New World

When I got admission into university for Software Engineering, it felt like I had entered another planet. Everyone seemed confident, fluent in English, and comfortable with technology.

Meanwhile, I was nervous, quiet, and overwhelmed. I didn’t know much about programming. I wasn’t good at public speaking. And yes, I struggled with English too.

But instead of letting those things hold me back, I made them my motivation.

If others had a head start, I would work twice as hard to catch up.

Nights of Coding, Days of Doubt

In the beginning, I barely understood what my professors were teaching. I watched YouTube tutorials late into the night, sometimes using mobile data that barely worked. I took notes from friends, borrowed books, and asked questions online.

My old laptop froze often. I lost files, faced bugs I didn’t understand, and even failed a few assignments. There were nights I felt like giving up.

But then I’d remind myself why I started.

I wasn’t just doing this for a degree. I was doing this for the little boy in the village who stared at that screen with wonder. I was doing it to prove that background doesn’t define destiny.

Turning Point: Believing in Myself

One day, a classmate asked for help with debugging code. I wasn’t sure, but I tried—and surprisingly, I solved it. That moment gave me confidence. Slowly, I started participating in group projects, asking questions in class, and even helping others.

Eventually, I got interested in cybersecurity and digital forensics. I learned about tools like Kali Linux and Autopsy. I even completed an internship where I worked on real forensic cases. Me—the same village boy who once feared typing in English—was now running digital investigations.

The Day I Graduated

Graduation day felt like a dream.

Wearing that gown, holding my degree, I thought about everything I had overcome.

The slow internet. The language struggles. The doubts. The nights I studied by the light of my phone during power cuts. The time my laptop crashed during finals. The fear of presentations.

I made it.

Not because I was the smartest, or richest, or most talented. But because I refused to quit.

To Anyone From a Small Place: This Is For You

If you come from a village, a small town, or a background where no one dreams big—this story is for you.

You don’t need perfect English to code.

You don’t need to own the latest tech to start learning.

You don’t need to have it all figured out from the beginning.

All you need is a reason strong enough to keep going when everything says stop.

I came from a village where most people had never heard the word “software engineer.” Today, I am one.

And if I can do it, you can too.