Aishwarya Mahapatra

I want to take a moment to thank my “Maa“ for not letting me do any chores so that I can focus more on my work and explore things beyond my work! ❤

Whatever I've achieved today is because of her as:

⏩ When I was preparing day and night for JEE/placements, she made sure to keep me hydrated!
⏩ When I was attending endless meetings (during my internship), she made sure to place the food on my table!
⏩ When I was in college, she made sure to call me 10 times a day and take care of me from a distance of 1000 km.

The above list is endless and eternal 🌸

I may not be able to justify from this small post, how grateful am I to her but deep down I know, all that matters to her is: me being happy, healthy, and always near her! ❤

I just realized that:

⏩ My parents don't have to pay anymore for college because I have been able to earn enough to pay my fees myself.

⏩ And the best part of all is, my father finally feels safe enough to now retire from his job!

No feeling is greater than realizing that you've finally made your parents tension-free after years of their selfless love and sacrifices! ❤😇

PS: Just a year ago, I couldn't have imagined any of it but see how time changes in a blink! Thus, everyone has a bad day and a good day, time is not biased for anyone! If you're having a bad day, a good day is not very far!

“How did you get into Google?”

I get a lot of DMs asking about my journey, and honestly, I hesitated to share. Didn't want to come across as bragging, especially with so many amazing folks here at Google. But then I realized, if it can help even one person, it's worth it! ✨

So, here are some common questions and my honest answers:
📍 “How many DSA questions did you solve?“ Close to 1000. But quantity isn't everything! Focus on understanding concepts, mastering data structures, and confidently tackling LeetCode mediums (and challenging yourself with hards). Can you see the problem and instantly know which data structure to use? That's the goal. 🎯

📍 “Does luck play a role?“ Yes and no. Google interviews are DSA-heavy, which gives you multiple chances to shine. If one round doesn't go your way, you have others. And honestly, with solid prep, “bad luck“ becomes less of a factor.

📍 “Is competitive programming (CP) needed?“ Not necessarily. Some Googlers are CP wizards, others are Leetdode rockstars. It comes down to understanding the fundamentals and problem-solving.

📍 “How important are contests?“ Super important! They show you where you stand and help you strategize. Don't miss them! If you do, do the virtual ones.

The biggest takeaway? Discipline. Consistent practice and focused learning are key. Everything else will follow. 🌸

#Google #LifeAtGoogle #Learnings #Discipline