Before 2025 even started, I already knew one thing:
I was lacking.
Not potential — skill coverage.
I looked at myself honestly and said,
"Yeah… if I continue like this, life will humble me."
So I did what I always do when reality hits hard.
I made a plan.
The Plan (aka Me Underestimating Myself)
At the start of the year, I wasn't even passionate about web development.
But passion doesn't pay rent.
I knew one hard truth:
If I wanted to survive the Ghanaian economy, I needed a skill that could get me hired.
Web development checked that box.
And even beyond survival — if I truly wanted to become a systems and security engineer, I had to understand how the web actually works. No shortcuts.
So what did I do?
I added it to the plan.
Same with DSA.
I was "okay" at it — but okay doesn't win contests or interviews.
So I pushed for competitive programming.
Typing?
Yeah, I had to fix that too.
You can't be a serious developer and type like you're arguing with the keyboard.
So I wrote everything down.
And here's the funny part…
The plan I made for 2025 was actually too small for me.
The Original 2025 Plan (Short Version)
Typing
- Daily practice
- Target: 100 → 120+ WPM
DSA & LeetCode
- Start easy
- Move to medium
- Eventually hard problems & mock interviews
Web Development
- Basics → React → Full-stack
- Projects every phase
- Portfolio-ready by year end
Extras
- Hackathons
- Internships
- Interview prep
Simple. Structured. Reasonable.
Or so I thought.
Reality Check: What Actually Happened
Fast forward to the last month of the year…
I can confidently say this:
The plan underestimated my capacity.
Because 2025 didn't just give progress —
it gave results.
The Wins
| Achievement | Status |
|---|---|
| Secured an internship | ✅ |
| Got into A2SV | ✅ |
| Ranked 2nd in contests | ✅ |
| Shipped Merrylow (Backend & DevOps) | ✅ |
| Polished my portfolio | ✅ |
| Secured my own .tech domain | ✅ |
Projects Built
- SafestCode — Security-first code analysis
- ProxyPhish — Phishing detection tool
- Zigly — Personal assistant platform
- Enzypher — A full-fledged encrypted chat app ready to compete with big tech
On paper?
That looks like a movie.
But life doesn't show you the bloopers.
The Part Nobody Posts About
Let's talk about the pain.
Mid-semester — right in the middle of everything — I got robbed.
What I Lost:
- My phone
- My SIM card (registered long before I turned 18)
- My MiFi — my entire internet lifeline
And yes… this happened during the semester.
What That Meant:
- No internet
- Missed almost all online classes
- Missed surprise quizzes that were meant to boost grades
- Disappeared from people's lives for months
- Felt completely disconnected and stuck
That period?
Mentally brutal.
Rejections Hit Too
I applied to Polymorph.
Got the interview.
Wasn't skilled enough yet.
Rejected.
Applied to Palantir.
Got the online assessment.
Didn't embarrass myself — but still…
Rejected.
| Outcome | Expected? | Painful? |
|---|---|---|
| Polymorph Rejection | Yes | Yes |
| Palantir Rejection | Yes | Also Yes |
But here's the thing.
I didn't stop.
Beast Mode Activated
During the final semester vacation (3+ months), I made a decision:
"No more excuses."
I locked in.
The Grind:
- Advanced DSA
- Deep systems thinking
- Built Enzypher from scratch
- Leveled up technically and mentally
Right now?
I can confidently say I'm ready for any technical interview you throw at me.
And that confidence didn't come from hype.
It came from work.
🤔 So… Success or Failure?
Let's be honest.
2025 was:
- 😣 Painful
- 🙏 Humbling
- 😩 Exhausting
- 💪 Empowering
I lost things.
I missed things.
I got rejected.
But I also grew beyond the version of myself that made the original plan.
So no — this year wasn't a failure.
It was proof.
What's Next?
- Update my resume
- Apply to top tech roles
- Nail interviews
- See what's next on the path
No rush.
No fear.
Just momentum.
💭 Final Thought
If future me ever reads this:
Don't forget how much you survived.
Don't forget how hard you worked.
And don't ever underestimate yourself again.
You're built for more.
— Zigla City 🖤