From Struggling with DSA to Working at Amazon

Hi, I'm Shreya Jain, currently working as an SDE-1 at Amazon.

Coming from a Tier-3 college, I always felt that getting into a good company would be difficult. Hardly anyone around me focused on DSA because it was considered too challenging, and with very few companies visiting our campus, opportunities seemed limited.

I wanted to change that and build a career in tech. However, expensive paid courses were not an option for me. That's when I discovered Striver's A2Z DSA Sheet and playlists on TakeUForward, and my preparation journey took a completely different direction.

The Free Resource That Changed My Direction

I started learning DSA from scratch through TakeUForward. I followed Raj Sir's videos and started solving the A2Z DSA Sheet, one topic at a time.

Initially, DSA felt difficult, but I focused on understanding concepts and practising consistently rather than rushing through the sheet.

Slowly, things started making sense. The fear I once had of DSA gradually turned into confidence, and I began approaching problems with a better understanding.

Rejections Before My First Breakthrough

Once I started applying for off-campus opportunities, the journey wasn't easy.

I faced multiple rejections and received offers with low stipends. There were moments when things didn't go as expected, but I kept preparing and applying.

Eventually, I got an opportunity to interview at Mechademy.

The interview included two DSA rounds. The concepts and problems I had practised through TUF helped me approach the questions confidently, solve them, and secure my first internship.

From My First Internship to Amazon SDE-1

That internship became my first job and gave me my first salary. It was an important milestone that gave me confidence to aim higher.

Today, I'm working as an SDE-1 at Amazon. Looking back, the journey from a college with limited placement opportunities to working at Amazon reminds me how much consistent preparation and the right guidance can change your career.

What once seemed nearly impossible gradually became a reality.

What My Journey Taught Me

My biggest learning is that you don't always need expensive courses or a perfect environment to start preparing.

If you're coming from a Tier-3 college or have limited placement opportunities, don't let that decide what you can achieve.

Start with the basics, follow a structured roadmap, practise consistently, and don't give up after rejections. Progress might feel slow initially, but every problem you solve takes you one step forward.

I'll always be grateful to Raj Sir and the entire TakeUForward team for making high-quality education accessible for free and helping me build the confidence to achieve something I once thought was impossible.