It feels strange to say, but I think I am quite unconditioned to failure when it comes to achieving things. I do not mean that in a bragging way. Usually, when I set my mind on something, I am able to achieve it within a given period of time.
July 9 was the first time I had been humbled in a long while. I was very unprepared, but I completely flunked my first technical interview. By flunked, I mean that I genuinely realised how weak some of my foundations in technology were, and that crushed me.
I had always assumed that good grades meant strong foundations. I am starting to realise that this is not necessarily the case. Grades can be more reflective of diligence than ability, although I know that is a generalisation and will not apply to every student.
What I learned
Life pushes you around, and sometimes those pushes are directions showing you how to become better.
This interview exposed a gap between knowing enough to perform well academically and understanding something deeply enough to explain and apply it under pressure. That was uncomfortable, but it was also useful. I now have a much clearer picture of what I need to work on.
What comes next
I am going to spend more time strengthening my computer science foundations and preparing for technical interviews. I want my understanding to be rock solid so that I can build more interesting projects and research on top of it.
I realise that the path towards strong foundations is long. The only realistic thing I can do is learn quickly and build more projects that reinforce what I study.
Either way, I do not regret going to my first interview. It taught me humility and reminded me that opportunities in life are finite. It is our job to place ourselves in positions where we can succeed, and right now that should be my main focus.