Where it all started
I was born in Junnar, a quiet town that gave me a childhood full of curiosity and care. From the very beginning I was that kid: the studious one, who believed that doing well in school was the most important thing in life. Being the only child, I grew up with undivided love and attention. It meant never having to share, and it later taught me how important it is to open up and make space for others.
Even as a kid, I was drawn to anything mechanical. I got an RC car and played with it nonstop for a week. Then one afternoon I opened it up with a screwdriver, more interested in what powered it than in how it drove. That was my first love: the motor. That little moment shaped a lot of what came next.
The journey so far
School was my comfort zone. I was always in the top five, and I placed 4th in Maharashtra in the 4th standard scholarship exam. It felt like a huge deal back then. I kept doing well through 10th and moved to DMJC for 11th and 12th. I prepared for JEE but did not get into an IIT, and honestly, that is okay. I did well in MHT-CET, and that is how I landed at VIIT for Computer Engineering.
VIIT is the golden chapter. The first time I moved out of Junnar, my first taste of independence, my first real look at the world. Those four years shaped me more than any textbook could.
Then came rtCamp: my first corporate job, my first team, my first real-world code. They took a chance on me, trusted me with responsibility, and here I am, a year and a half in, growing every day.
The people who shaped me
It always starts with family. My parents, supportive, understanding and never conservative, gave me the freedom to be myself. I could talk to them about anything, and that trust became my foundation.
Then the constants: Ashish, Varun, Vaishnavi, Prathamesh and Avadhoot, friends I have known since preschool. They have been there through every stage.
Purnesh deserves his own paragraph. He rewired my personality. I went from quiet and reserved to a more open, outgoing version of myself, and a lot of that came from just being around him.
College gave me a tribe. Shardul, Atharva and Keyur: my first roommates, my project partners, my go-to people. And then the gang: Aryan, Sahil, Priyanshu, Siddhant, Yash, Nihar, Payal and Smaruddhi. Each of them added a layer to who I am today. Late-night talks, emotional support and pure madness: they are the best part of my college story.
Mindset shifts
At one point I thought being studious was everything. If you were not topping the class, you were not doing life right. That has completely changed. Life is much bigger: people, experiences, risks, memories. I now value travel, time with friends, spontaneous plans, and letting go of the urge to always be perfect.
I wish I had explored more as a teenager: tried sports, joined creative clubs, done things just for fun. Realising it now only makes me want to live more fully today.
What I’m chasing now
Growth. In my career, yes, but also in my health, my mindset and my creativity. I want to be more active and more present. I have started taking more photos and documenting my life, not for the world but for myself and the people I love.
I have also started thinking like a builder, looking for ideas I can turn into products. Not just side projects, but ventures with real impact. Slowly, I am moving from writing code to writing my story.
A letter to my past self
To the 18-year-old me who thought he had to have it all figured out: you did not, and you did just fine. You stuck to your values, worked hard and made the right calls. You got the job, the car and the iPhone, but more than that, you built a life. And it is only the beginning.
Final thoughts
Turning 23 is not a huge milestone by the world’s standards. To me it feels like a checkpoint: a moment to pause, look back at the road, and smile.
If you are reading this, thank you for being part of my journey. A message, a memory or just being there: it means a lot.
Here’s to the next chapter.
