A software professional recently narrated a deeply personal story of transformation driven entirely by grit and endurance. Posting on the Indian Flex subreddit, he shared two contrasting photographs of homes that captured different chapters of his life. One image showed the modest space he lived in while struggling through job applications and skill-building. The other displayed a well-constructed house he later built in his hometown for his parents. For him, this contrast represented the ultimate achievement, something he believed would forever remain his proudest milestone. From that point onward, he felt that anything life offered would only be a step up.
He explained that the post was also meant to verify the truth of an earlier story he had shared months ago. Born into a lower middle-class household, financial hardship shaped his childhood. Simple school demands often became major challenges. If a school trip required ₹300, his family would search every corner of their home and still fall short, managing to collect only around ₹210 in scattered coins.
Academics did not come easily to him either. Throughout engineering college, he lacked focus and discipline. His student life was filled with distractions, unresolved subjects, frequent conflicts, unhealthy habits, and poor decisions. Responsibility was something he embraced very late.
After completing engineering, driven by a vague sense that he needed to do something with his life, he moved to Hyderabad. With limited resources, he stayed in whichever paying guest accommodation he could afford and enrolled in courses that promised quick employment. One such course was a DBA program in Ameerpet, for which he paid with hope more than clarity. Once classes began, reality struck. He realized he was merely one among hundreds chasing the same uncertain promise.
Three months passed, the course ended, and the money was gone. With no job prospects, he returned home confused and defeated. His family began considering arranging a small-paying job through contacts, something locally known as line work, involving daily collection duties for a monthly income of around ₹10,000–12,000.
After another few months of stagnation, his family decided this path was not sustainable. They sold a portion of their land to give him another chance and sent him back to Hyderabad. Before leaving, he made a quiet promise to his mother that he would not return without securing a job.
This time, he could no longer afford PG accommodation. A former college friend offered to share his tiny room, assuring him they would somehow manage. Around that period, cloud computing was gaining traction, and AWS was still relatively new. He enrolled in training, dedicating himself fully to learning and practice. His commitment impressed the trainer, who offered him a small monthly stipend to teach Linux and AWS practice sessions to new students. The role provided both income and hands-on experience, allowing him to stop depending on his family for money.
The cramped room they lived in cost just ₹1,500 a month. Conditions were extremely basic. The same corner housed water buckets, a commode seat, and a single tap that served as their only water source. Washing utensils, before and after meals, had to be done there. Daily travel costs were avoided by walking six kilometers every day. Meals were chosen purely by price. Egg fried rice became a daily staple, often leading to recurring stomach issues.
Despite these hardships, they did not feel defeated. Gratitude replaced despair. Hunger for success fueled their days. They studied relentlessly, often working late into the night and starting again early in the morning. Entertainment, gossip, and leisure vanished from their lives. Their world revolved entirely around learning, practicing, and improving. This phase unfolded in 2014.
Today, both friends work in the IT industry. One earns ₹2 lakh per month, the other ₹3.5 lakh. They cleared family debts, built homes, started families, and welcomed a daughter into their lives. His message was simple yet powerful: change is real, but it demands personal struggle. Comparisons are meaningless. Effort matters. Results follow. The two photos told the story clearly—a messy one-bedroom flat contrasted with a polished, modern house—silent proof of how far perseverance can take someone.
He explained that the post was also meant to verify the truth of an earlier story he had shared months ago. Born into a lower middle-class household, financial hardship shaped his childhood. Simple school demands often became major challenges. If a school trip required ₹300, his family would search every corner of their home and still fall short, managing to collect only around ₹210 in scattered coins.
Academics did not come easily to him either. Throughout engineering college, he lacked focus and discipline. His student life was filled with distractions, unresolved subjects, frequent conflicts, unhealthy habits, and poor decisions. Responsibility was something he embraced very late.
After completing engineering, driven by a vague sense that he needed to do something with his life, he moved to Hyderabad. With limited resources, he stayed in whichever paying guest accommodation he could afford and enrolled in courses that promised quick employment. One such course was a DBA program in Ameerpet, for which he paid with hope more than clarity. Once classes began, reality struck. He realized he was merely one among hundreds chasing the same uncertain promise.
Three months passed, the course ended, and the money was gone. With no job prospects, he returned home confused and defeated. His family began considering arranging a small-paying job through contacts, something locally known as line work, involving daily collection duties for a monthly income of around ₹10,000–12,000.
After another few months of stagnation, his family decided this path was not sustainable. They sold a portion of their land to give him another chance and sent him back to Hyderabad. Before leaving, he made a quiet promise to his mother that he would not return without securing a job.
This time, he could no longer afford PG accommodation. A former college friend offered to share his tiny room, assuring him they would somehow manage. Around that period, cloud computing was gaining traction, and AWS was still relatively new. He enrolled in training, dedicating himself fully to learning and practice. His commitment impressed the trainer, who offered him a small monthly stipend to teach Linux and AWS practice sessions to new students. The role provided both income and hands-on experience, allowing him to stop depending on his family for money.
The cramped room they lived in cost just ₹1,500 a month. Conditions were extremely basic. The same corner housed water buckets, a commode seat, and a single tap that served as their only water source. Washing utensils, before and after meals, had to be done there. Daily travel costs were avoided by walking six kilometers every day. Meals were chosen purely by price. Egg fried rice became a daily staple, often leading to recurring stomach issues.
Despite these hardships, they did not feel defeated. Gratitude replaced despair. Hunger for success fueled their days. They studied relentlessly, often working late into the night and starting again early in the morning. Entertainment, gossip, and leisure vanished from their lives. Their world revolved entirely around learning, practicing, and improving. This phase unfolded in 2014.
Today, both friends work in the IT industry. One earns ₹2 lakh per month, the other ₹3.5 lakh. They cleared family debts, built homes, started families, and welcomed a daughter into their lives. His message was simple yet powerful: change is real, but it demands personal struggle. Comparisons are meaningless. Effort matters. Results follow. The two photos told the story clearly—a messy one-bedroom flat contrasted with a polished, modern house—silent proof of how far perseverance can take someone.