This is a submission for the 2026 WeCoded Challenge: Echoes of Experience
When I first found out my passion for building things in tech, I was over the moon. I signed up for a training program, ready to learn, ready to build, ready to network. I had no idea I was about to face one of the toughest pits in my life, and it was not going to be my programming skills that would cause me problems. It was the people surrounding me.
Feeling Isolated in a World of Passion
Early on, I noticed my passion did not align with the passion levels of my peers. Their interests were different, their priorities were different. While I wanted to talk about things like coding, projects, and ideas, they wanted to talk about things like social trends, entertainment, or personal life.
At first, I tried to "fit in". I changed my habits, asked no questions in class, showed no curiosity, doing things everyone was doing and even adopted new hobbies to join their conversations. But still, I felt invisible.
Each day was a quiet struggle to be seen, to belong, and to wonder if my curiosity, my gender, or my age was the reason why I didn’t “fit” into this new environment.
The Low Point
I sank into deep depression. I was no longer confident, no longer enjoyed coding, and no longer wanted to be around anyone, even myself. Even simple interactions with others became challenges that I was failing at. I was exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed.
There was a point where, while alone on the bus, I wondered if I was even cut out for this whole tech thing. It was like no one was going to be able to relate to me or help me through this. But even in this dark time, there was a small spark within me. That spark was my curiosity.
Rediscovering My Passion
The turning point was a slow one, and months later, I found my passion again and decided to get back to something that originally made me happy: building. I built a simple mobile application, a barter application, using React Native and Supabase.
Here is a glimpse of the application that I built:
But rebuilding that relationship with tech wasn’t just about the code. It was about my own confidence, my own voice, and my own love for what I do. It was about realizing that the people who don’t understand or appreciate my passion are not reflections of my own value.
Lessons Learned
- Your curiosity is valid. Do not silence it to please others.
- You don’t have to carry others’ expectations. Take care of your energy and your joy.
- Connect with what you love. Even small projects or hobbies can reignite your confidence.
- Share your journey. Vulnerability is a bridge to connection, for yourself and others.
Despite everything, I appreciate the experience. It was a painful one, yes, but also a lesson that there is power in sticking to who I am. Today, I feel hopeful, curious, and creative again, for myself and no one else.
If you’ve ever felt invisible in your tech journey, know that you’re not alone. What have been some of your coping mechanisms when faced with these feelings? I’d love to hear about them in the comments. Let’s lift each other up to stay curious, stay confident, and stay human.
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