Mechanical Engineering to Software Developer: My Journey of Grit and Growth

Hello! My name is Piyushh (yes, with two Hs – a story for another time). Today, I want to share how I transitioned from being a Production & Industrial engineering student to landing a coveted role as a Software Development Engineer (SDE) at Tredence, Bangalore. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was worth every challenge.

From being the only one in my batch to secure an SDE role through non-mass hiring to exploring passions beyond my core field, here’s how I rewrote my destiny.

Humble Beginnings

Growing up, I wasn’t the top scorer in academics, but I excelled in sports and had a flair for art. My school journey was marked by average grades in most subjects, except one – computers. In every computer science class, I found myself at ease, consistently scoring above 95%. It sparked a realization early on: I could code.

Despite this, my academic path took a detour. After scoring the lowest in science during my 10th board exams, I still chose the science stream for my higher secondary education. However, getting admitted to a prestigious school proved difficult. I ended up in a dummy school, trying to prepare for the IITJEE exams, but I couldn’t clear them.

When it came to college admissions, I faced another crossroads. While I had cleared exams for private colleges like VITEEE, I wasn’t getting Computer Science during counseling. My options boiled down to choosing Civil or Production and Industrial (P&I) Engineering at VIT, or pursuing IT at KIIT. I was torn.

Seeking guidance, I called my physics teacher, who advised me to think carefully: “If you choose something you’re not interested in, it won’t be easy for four years.” On the other hand, my chemistry teacher, ever the optimist, encouraged me to go for VIT, saying, “No matter the course, you’ll figure it out. You can even try for a course migration in the second year.”

With input from my father and mentors, I chose P&I at VIT. It wasn’t my dream course, but something inside me whispered: This is where your journey begins.

“Sometimes, life takes you on a detour to show you a better path.”

Early Struggles and First Steps

In my first semester at VIT, I stood somewhere in the middle of my class. Relative grading meant you had to compete within your batch to excel, but the small size of my batch played in my favor. The atmosphere wasn’t fiercely competitive, which gave me breathing space to figure things out.

When it came time to explore the possibility of course migration in my second semester, I decided to take subjects from Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE). Unfortunately, this turned out to be a mixed bag. While one subject was straightforward, the other – semiconductors – was incredibly challenging. I barely scraped by, earning C grades in both subjects. This low performance meant I had to give up the idea of migrating to another course.

At this point, I also faced rejections during club recruitments. I applied to nearly seven CS-related clubs for management roles, only to be turned down by all of them. It was disheartening, but I didn’t dwell on it. Instead, I spent my time playing Call of Duty and tried to focus on what I could control.

“I am thankful for all those who said no to me. It’s because of them I did it myself.” – Albert Einstein

The semester ended with a turning point. During my break, I joined a coding course with a friend, where we learned PHP. I was hooked! I ended up doing the entire group project myself, rediscovering my love for coding. This newfound confidence carried me back to college, where I started helping my CS/IT friends with their database projects, cementing my basics in SQL and web development.

The Turning Point: E-Summit and Beyond

My fourth semester brought a breakthrough. Joining the Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) gave me a platform to prove myself. Tasked with building the website for the E-Summit event, I worked tirelessly, balancing academics, and technical responsibilities. The sleepless nights paid off – not only did the platform work flawlessly, but it also earned me multiple internship offers during the event.

This was the moment I realized my calling as a software developer. The internship honed my technical skills and gave me the confidence to aim higher.

Growth Through Community

By my fifth semester, I was actively involved in hackathons, technical fests, and the Microsoft Student Community. Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals accelerated my growth. I learned the value of teamwork, problem-solving, and community-driven learning.

Even when exploring design through cultural fest teams, I discovered more about myself – what I loved and what I didn’t want to pursue long-term. This clarity made me focus on my true passion: coding.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

Preparation Meets Opportunity

By the end of my sixth semester, I knew that if I wanted to secure a role in software development, I had to focus on mastering the fundamentals. During the semester break, I made a decision that would shape my future: to dedicate my time entirely to strengthening my skills in Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA).

This wasn’t an easy choice. While many of my peers were exploring internships, I chose to step back, study, and prepare for placement season. I spent countless hours solving problems, understanding concepts, and practicing mock interviews. It was an intense period of self-discipline, but I could see myself improving with every effort.

When the seventh semester began, I felt ready. I applied to every SDE role that matched my skills. Rejections were part of the process, but I didn’t let them deter me. Finally, after rounds of assessments and interviews, I secured my dream role as an SDE at Tredence, Bangalore.

That moment was surreal. All the late nights, coding sessions, and hours of preparation had paid off. I wasn’t just starting a career; I was stepping into a future I had built for myself, one problem, one project, and one breakthrough at a time.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

Even now, I continue to learn every day. The journey doesn’t stop when you reach a milestone – it evolves as you do.

Lessons Learned

Looking back, my journey from mechanical engineering to software development taught me three invaluable lessons:

1. Nothing is impossible – If you’re determined, you can bridge any gap.

2. Everything happens for a reason – Embrace challenges; they shape your path.

3. Believe in yourself – Trust your instincts and never stop learning.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

Final Thoughts

Life’s journey is unpredictable, and every twist brings opportunities to grow and redefine yourself. My story is a testament to the fact that your background doesn’t determine your future – your grit and determination do.

To anyone chasing a dream that feels out of reach, remember this: The path might be challenging, but the destination is worth it. Keep learning, keep growing, and never stop believing in yourself.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

This is just the beginning of my story. The road ahead is filled with new challenges and opportunities, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. I’ll be back with an update soon – stay tuned!