I've been doing leetcode more frequently these past couple of weeks since Data Structures and Algorithms are ultimately the benchmark that decides whether or not you would make a good software engineer. Sure! no problem with that, I have to grind through CS theory just like everyone else. What I don't understand is why people make it seem like if you don't get into a FAANG or apply to a FAANG you're a failure. All anyone can talk about is Google, Amazon etc. They don't highlight the experiences at midsize or small tech companies which pay just as well or offer comparable benefits. Let me clarify that I would love to work at FAANG company, i'm not being hypocrtical, but why do so many people measure success in CS based on getting an offer from these companies? Do you consider yourself a failure because you're not working at Google?