I’m currently working as an SDE at a product-based startup with 2+ years of experience in full stack development, though most of my work has been backend-focused.

Since my college days, I was always more interested in development than problem solving. I used to think DSA was less relevant compared to building real products, working on architecture, scaling systems, APIs, and all the practical engineering challenges.

But recently, while thinking about long-term career growth, I realized something important: peace of mind matters too, not just compensation. Startup life can be exciting, but it can also feel chaotic at times. With AI rapidly changing the industry, I’ve started feeling that strong fundamentals like System Design and DSA are what truly strengthen an engineer’s profile and keep opportunities open.

Over the last two months, I’ve invested significant time in problem solving, and honestly, I’m enjoying it far more than I expected. It has improved the way I think, sharpened my problem-solving ability, and helped me understand why companies value it so much during interviews.

Funny how something I once ignored has now become something I genuinely appreciate.