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Hamayl Zahid
Hamayl Zahid

Posted on • Originally published at Medium

Am I Just Passing Time in University… or Building My Future?

How chasing a 3.96/4 GPA left me empty — until I started building for real. 🎓


TL;DR ⬇️

  • GPA ≠ success (alone)
  • Skills ≠ success (alone)
  • You need balance: consistency (GPA) + capability (skills)

Stop only passing exams, start building your future.


On paper, I looked perfect: a 3.96/4 GPA, the “topper” everyone pointed out in class.

But one day, I paused and asked myself:

“Am I just passing time in university… or actually building my future?”

For 2 years, I did what everyone told me:

  • Study hard
  • Score high
  • Pass exams
  • Repeat

No portfolio. No GitHub. No proof I could build anything.
Just a glowing transcript.

Then it hit me. I opened my resume and realized:

GPA alone doesn’t prove you can build.


A worried female topper student holding a glowing transcript with “3.96 GPA” while recruiters ask for skills and projects

The Wake-Up Call

Here’s the truth nobody tells you:

  • Grades ≠ Success
  • Skills ≠ Success

You need both — in balance.
Not only a high GPA, not only random skills.
A mix of consistency, projects, and visibility. That’s where growth starts. 🌱


From Glowing GPA to Glowing Skills ✨

After that realization, I decided to rebuild myself.

I started:

  • Learning beyond class with practical AI/ML courses
  • Building real-world projects and pushing them to GitHub
  • Designing a personal website to showcase my journey
  • Writing my resume early (not waiting for the final year)
  • Building daily habits instead of cramming for exams

Suddenly, I wasn’t just “the topper.
I was becoming a student who could apply knowledge, not just score marks.


My Message to Students Like Me

Don’t put your entire worth in your GPA.
Don’t ignore it either.

Both grades and skills matter — but balance is everything. ⚖️
Your GPA reflects consistency, your skills show capability. Together, they make you stand out.


❓ If you’re stuck in the grade loop…

Ask yourself:
Are you building your future — or just passing time?

This is just the beginning — I’ll keep sharing practical tools, resources, and lessons from my journey as I grow.

✨ Remember: Grades matter, but they’re only part of the story. Skills, projects, and balance matter just as much.

If you’re on the same path — let’s build together. 💻🌱

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear how you’re balancing GPA vs. skills.

Originally published on Medium


Hamayl Zahid

Aspiring AI Engineer — building intelligent systems that learn fast, act smart & deliver real-world impact.

🔗 LinkedIn | GitHub

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