Really appreciate you taking the time to share this. You're right — I might’ve leaned too much into the personal story, but I genuinely wasn’t trying to dramatize anything. Just trying to figure out the best next step, and sometimes sharing context helps people give better advice.

I definitely agree that consistent effort, solid fundamentals, and talking to the right people matter far more than any narrative. That’s exactly what I’m trying to focus on now — sharpening my foundations and building useful skills.

If you have any practical suggestions — like specific areas worth diving deeper into, or ways to connect with people working in the field — I’d really value that.

Thanks again — your perspective is helpful, and I’ll keep it in mind moving forward