This is how Nishtha found her calling as a Front-end Engineer with Masai

2 years ago if someone would have told Nishtha that she would go on to become a Front-end engineer, working at a SaaS company, she wouldn’t have believed them, but today she’s working as a Frontend Engineer at 1sm.io

Coming from a non-science background, it was initially difficult for her to set a pace for herself at Masai. However, her unfeigned determination towards the course led her to where she is today. 

Till she completed her graduation, Nishtha wasn’t sure about the path she would take to escalate in her career. Fate took her from one place to another and it was only after a lot of exploration that she came across Masai School. In a fun conversation with her, we talk about what made her interested in the world of coding and how far she has come just by taking a leap of faith:

How did you find your passion for coding?

I was in Bali with some friends when I noticed a lot of people living the digital nomad life. It was simply incredible. I was impressed with their lifestyle and also at that time, I was laid back because of the pandemic. I suddenly had a desire to want a profession like this that would allow me to work remotely, pay me well, and let me travel as per my wish. It was then when I began exploring different fields and came across coding.

What led you to Masai School? Did you have any doubts while enrolling?

I spent a few weeks learning to code online with a few resources I had. However, it didn’t help much as it was all theoretical. I soon realized that in order to make a career, I need to learn things from an industry perspective. 

I started looking for courses that would allow me to learn everything on a professional level and that’s when I discovered Masai School. It was offering a 30-week program for learning to code that too without any initial fees involved- for a person who knew nothing about coding, it seemed like a genuine way, to begin with. Moreover, 12 hours of learning for 6 days a week was something no one could take for granted!

Describe the experience that you had while being a student.

The 9-to-9 routine we had in Masai was tough but very helpful for me. The motivation mantra that we had- “One more day to be a better coder”- kept me going throughout the entire course. In my opinion, there is a massive under-representation of women in the tech field due to which I often felt that I have to run a race to prove my potential to the world. Therefore, I naturally had a drive and urge to be better than others.  

How did the placements go for you? Did you face any challenges in between?

3 weeks prior to the placements, some mock interviews were conducted at Masai where I performed horribly and even cried in front of my mentors. While I was confident on the outside about my newly acquired knowledge, I was nervous on the inside- I feared that I would fail. But thanks to the incredible team at Masai, who were constantly there to motivate me at every step and didn’t let me feel that I was alone in this. 

So how did you land your current job?

I got a job offer during the first interview itself and it truly felt amazing. Though the offer was pretty good, it defeated my purpose of being a digital nomad. To ensure some kind of flexibility, I wanted to join a start-up that would help me polish my skills instead of working for a big corporation where I knew I would just be a drop in the ocean. After trying for a month, I finally got a job at a New York-based start-up where I am currently working. 

While I work remotely today, I believe that maybe 5 to 10 years from now (when I would be an expert who may have a solid business idea), I’d like to start a venture of my own. 

As you look back, how do you feel when you see yourself today? 

Growing up, I wasn’t very inclined to academics and studies, and most of my time was spent exploring my creative interests. I used to dance a lot and that used to be my major escape. Even in my late teens, academics never really interested me much- which is why I invested my time building my own startup at the age of 16. The start-up dealt with customized designed outfits for each individual based on their preference of designs and colors. My entrepreneurial experiences helped me bring out my creative side, which truly was a blessing back then. 

I took Humanities in high school and went straight to Delhi University’s Sri Venkateswara College after scoring well in board exams. During my college too, I interned at a lot of places in various fields such as sales, marketing, HR, etc. to explore and understand my niche. But sadly, nothing really clicked with me.

Deciding to enter the world of coding was perhaps the best decision I took in my entire life and being at Masai made it worthwhile. I truly believe that if you lay your heart on something and give your 100% to it, then you will surely reap the benefits one fine day- just like I did.  

The Masai Experience- 

In our conversation with Nishtha, it was evident that the culture and discipline at Masai is a big source of encouragement for aspiring coders from all walks of life.  

The hard work and efforts that Nishtha put in honing her skills helped her in becoming the kind of professional that explores all the possibilities while improving every day- something she hadn’t fathomed of till a few years back. 

Through Masai, not only was she able to learn and grow as a coder, but she was also able to boost her confidence into becoming one with the long-standing support of our dedicated faculty.

Here’s the video where Nishtha shares her experience at Masai School when she was a student. She talks about how she found her true calling only after trying multiple things throughout her youth. Her love for exploration made her reach a place in life where she is making the most out of it. She is truly a role model for today’s generation and it is evident in this conversation.