A Conversation with an Intern

Sponsored by

I don’t think my transition into tech was that amazing. I set out a goal and I accomplished it.

To me, that was all there was to.

I did what I set out to do.

But the intern thought differently when I told him I was self-taught. He thought it was the most insane thing he had ever heard. And when he asked “Did I have a Computer Science degree”, he was stunned when I said, “No“.

He was impressed that I managed without it and begin to launch into questions about my journey. I answered his questions, but mentally I was still befuddled by his awe.

I couldn’t wrap my head around why he was so surprised.

I didn’t create a new version of Linux. I didn’t invent some new framework. I just learned. I stayed up late. I Googled everything. I asked questions. I built ugly projects. I broke things. I got stuck a lot. I got frustrated, and quit a few times, but I never stopped moving forward. To me, it was just persistence. Nothing fancy. Nothing genius. Just work.

But that’s when it hit me: we normalize our own struggle. We downplay what we’ve overcome because we lived it day by day. We forget that what feels ordinary to us can look extraordinary to someone just starting out.

That conversation reminded me of something important: your story matters even when you think it’s not impressive. Sharing how you got started, the mistakes you made, and the doubts you had could be the thing that gives someone else the courage to start.

It also reminded me that not everyone who started will make it. Some will give up, and most will never start. What I did was impressive, and it’s okay to remember that. The journey I faced was tough and at times it seemed like I wasn’t going to make it, but I did and that’s worth celebrating!

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.