My Whole Journey Till 22

The Beginning 0 to 6

From as early as I can remember, learning never felt like a burden to me. I was naturally inclined toward studies, not because someone pushed me, but because curiosity existed on its own. I never needed reminders to sit down with books. There was no fear of exams or pressure to perform at that stage. Studying felt normal, almost instinctive.

What shaped me quietly during these years was discipline. I observed more than I spoke. I liked understanding how things worked rather than memorizing them. That habit stayed with me longer than I realized.

Childhood and Cricket 6 to 13

Cricket became a major part of my identity very early. It was not just a sport for me. It taught me structure, patience, consistency, and emotional control. Losing matches hurt, winning felt earned, and practice built character. Cricket was my escape and my teacher.

At the same time, academics continued smoothly. I remained good at studies, but the important thing was that nobody had to force me. I studied because I wanted to. The idea of external pressure did not make sense to me back then.

The First Real Pressure 10th Standard

Things changed in 10th standard. For the first time, marks were no longer just numbers. They became expectations. I was pushed to score 90 percent. It felt strange to me. I did not understand why effort and consistency were suddenly replaced by pressure and challenges.

Still, I accepted it calmly. I focused on my process instead of emotions. I studied steadily and trusted myself. The result was 91 percent. It was not about proving anyone wrong. It was about realizing that pressure could not break me if I stayed grounded.

That phase taught me an early lesson. I perform best when I am trusted, not threatened.

Growing Awareness 11th and 12th

In 11th and 12th, life started feeling heavier. Decisions mattered more. The future was no longer abstract. I scored 87 percent in 12th standard. It was a decent score, but more importantly, it taught me something deeper.

Life does not always reward effort proportionally. Sometimes you do everything right, and the outcome still feels incomplete. That realization stayed with me.

Around this time, my relationship with cricket began to fade. In 2020, I left cricket behind. It was not a dramatic decision, but it was emotional. Letting go of something that shaped you is never easy, but growth often demands sacrifices.

Entering College and Choosing My Path

I joined VIT Bhopal in 2021 and got Computer Science with AI and ML. This felt right. Technology matched the way I thought. Logical reasoning, systems, patterns, and problem solving felt natural to me.

The first three years of college were focused and disciplined. I studied hard. I did not chase shortcuts. I learned concepts deeply, experimented with ideas, and built skills patiently. I believed strongly in long term growth.

While others often focused on outcomes, I focused on foundations. I trusted that genuine learning would compound with time.

The Fourth Year Collapse

The fourth year broke me in ways I did not expect. After three years of honest effort, I did not get placed initially. Watching people succeed through cheating and shortcuts shattered my belief in fairness.

This phase brought depression, isolation, and silence. I questioned myself deeply. I wondered whether integrity still mattered. I wondered if I was naive for trusting the process.

Despite the noise around me, I held onto one belief.

God can delay but never deny.

It was not blind faith. It was survival.

The Turning Point

In January, I received an offer from Infosys. That moment did not feel like victory. It felt like validation. It was the first sign that the journey was not meaningless.

After that, momentum built. Opportunities followed. I received four offers in total. Each one reinforced the same lesson. Honest effort eventually finds its place, even if the path is longer.

Stepping Into the Real World

In May, I joined R Systems, a multinational company. Entering the professional world shifted my perspective again. Learning did not stop. If anything, it intensified.

Real systems, real problems, real responsibility. I realized how important fundamentals truly are. The habits I built during struggle now became assets.

Turning 22 and Looking Ahead

In September, I turned 22. I did not see it as an age milestone. I saw it as a checkpoint. I am still learning. Still experimenting. Still building. Still failing and improving.

I read more. I think deeper. I implement ideas instead of just consuming information. The hunger to grow has not faded. If anything, it has matured.

This journey is not about perfection. It is about consistency. It is about staying honest with effort, even when outcomes are delayed.

I am still going hard.
And this story is still unfolding.

~ Vansh Garg