From Average Student to Shipping 3 Apps in Production

If you had told me two years ago that I'd be developing apps used by real people, I would have laughed.

I was just an average student in college — not the "tech prodigy" type you hear about. I barely knew how development worked. But something changed in my second year.

I decided to learn React and dive into frontend development.

I started from scratch — Udemy courses, endless practice, late-night debugging sessions. Slowly, things started to click. Once I got comfortable with frontend development, I decided to level up and explore the backend. This time, I learned from Kirat's content, which made understanding the server-side much easier.

In just 4–5 months, I reached a decent level and thought,

"Why not try to earn something from these skills?"

That's when everything changed.

The First Big Leap

I got my first freelance project — a school management app.

Here's the twist:

• I had zero experience building apps.
• I had never shipped anything for iOS or Android.
• I barely knew React Native.

But I remembered something I heard from Kirat on his podcast:

"The best way to learn is to take a project, say yes, and figure it out along the way."

So, I said YES.

I asked the client for a short delay (because my exams were on) and used those 8–10 days to binge every React Native playlist I could find on YouTube. Because I already had solid React knowledge, React Native felt like a natural extension.

I still remember being nervous about failing — so I called up my senior, Tanish Bhaiya, who encouraged me and even guided me through the process.

When the project was finally done, it wasn't just an app that got shipped — it was my confidence that went into production that day.

Momentum Took Over

While still developing the first app, I got another freelance project — this time for an e-commerce app. This time, I didn't hesitate. I knew I could do it.

By the time both projects were complete, I got an internship at Zylectra, where I now work on core functionality for route and battery optimization for EVs — something I never imagined doing just a year ago.

The Biggest Lesson

Looking back, I realize how anxious I was to take that first step. But saying YES to that school app was the single best decision I made.

Because here's the truth:

There's no "perfect opportunity" coming. You create it by saying yes to the ones you get today.

If I had waited for the "right project" or for the "perfect time," I wouldn't have three apps in production today.

So, to anyone reading this:

Take the leap. Say yes. Figure it out on the way. The confidence you gain will be worth more than anything else.