This week was Tech Careers Fest at university, a week of employer talks, webinars, CV tips, and alumni sharing how they got into tech.

And while the advice was valuable, it also reminded me how different everyone’s path can be.

Some got into the industry straight after graduation. Others (hi, that’s me) started working at 15, studied at night, and are now career-changing into tech later in life.

Our journeys are personal. Progress isn’t linear. And just because your timeline looks different doesn’t mean you’re late.

Take what helps from others’ stories. But never forget your own.

Everyone’s Got a Story

Listening to these alumni talk about how they broke into tech was equal parts enlightening and overwhelming. Some jumped straight from graduation into full-time dev roles. Others pivoted from completely different careers (again, that’s me). A few made it sound like everything just clicked.

And there I was, on the other side of the screen, thinking:

Wow, that’s amazing… and also, wow, my path looks nothing like that.

But then I remembered something important: it’s not supposed to.

Your Path Is Yours

Here’s the thing about journeys, they’re not designed to be compared. Some people have fewer obstacles. Some have head starts. Some, like me, grew up in a country where opportunity wasn't exactly knocking, let alone emailing a LinkedIn invite.

I started working at 15. Finished school in the evenings after full days of work. Life wasn’t linear, it was more zigzag than roadmap. And now, years later, I’m studying Computing, career-changing, writing Java, building projects, and blogging about it like my life depends on it.

And I’m still going.

Learn From Others, But Don’t Become Them

There’s value in hearing other people’s stories. You might find tips, patterns, or even warnings in them. But don’t mistake their timeline for your own.

Take what helps. Leave what doesn’t. Recognise what you have done, the choices you’ve made, the growth you’ve achieved, and the fact that you’re still moving forward, even when it feels like a crawl.

If someone else made it into tech in 18 months, great. If it takes you 3 years, and you did it while raising kids, working nights, and relearning algebra from scratch, that doesn’t make you slower. It makes you resilient.

We're All Headed Somewhere

So yeah, I’m grateful for the chance to hear from alumni. I’m taking notes, soaking up advice, and quietly stalking their LinkedIn pages like the rest of us. But I’m also learning to stay grounded in my journey.

I’m not behind. I’m not late.
I’m just on my way.

And if you’re reading this and feeling the same, comparing yourself to the highlight reels of others, let me say this loud and clear: You’re not a failure for taking longer. You’re a masterpiece in progress.

We’ll get there.
No GPS needed, just grit, growth, and maybe a good playlist for the ride.

Have you ever compared your path to someone else’s and had to remind yourself: I’m on my journey? Drop a comment below 👇