SOMEONE OUT THERE WISHES
THEY WERE YOU

Not everyone has the privilege to go to college. Some people dream about sitting in the same classroom you’re in right now. Listening to lectures, making friends, getting lost in assignments. For them, college isn’t just about grades. It’s an access to opportunity, to knowledge, to a better life.

I used to be jealous of that.

There was a time I really wanted to go to college. But life had other plans. I was part of what people call the sandwich generation. Stuck between responsibilities. Money wasn’t enough, time wasn’t kind, and dreams felt like a luxury. So I took another path.

And sometimes that path feels wrong. Like walking barefoot on a road that’s not made for you.

I used to be good at drawing. I drew comics, made an art book, and shared my work. But somewhere along the way, I lost direction. My sketchbook gathered dust, and I started questioning if I was ever “good enough.”

Then one day, a junior from my old class messaged me. She said I inspired her. She wanted to be an artist because of me.

It hit me hard. Because I used to think my drawing was mediocre. I thought my art didn’t matter. But to her, it did.

It reminded me of my mentor a senior developer I looked up to. Now that I’ve become a software developer, I realize how much his influence shaped me. He wasn’t famous, and his posts on LinkedIn didn’t get many likes, but to me, he was cool.

He wrote tutorials, documented his learning, and shared knowledge just because he wanted to help others grow. That persistence inspired me just like my junior sees something in me.

And that’s when I started writing too about coding, about my journey, about learning.

I realize now that inspiration doesn’t need a stage. You don’t need thousands of followers. You don’t even need approval. Sometimes, your quiet persistence is enough.

Because somewhere out there, someone is learning from you even if you don’t realize it.

Maybe they wish they were you.
Maybe they wish they had your courage to keep going, even when the path is unclear.

So, wherever you are right now, in college, at work, or still finding your way, keep moving.

Because what you do today might be the reason someone else doesn’t give up tomorrow.