Lost, Found, and Flourishing: My Journey with Cisco

[ad_1] This submit was authored by Chirag Garg, a current Software program Engineering Intern who nearly didn’t apply — however ended up discovering his confidence, neighborhood, and profession path at Cisco.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-475901 alignright" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.18.23.jpeg" alt="Man standing in front of Silver Cisco sign." width="447" height="596" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.18.23-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/ndh7kdsG-WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.18.23-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.18.23.jpeg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px"/> Again in 2023, I used to be doing what most engineering college students do — making use of for internships, taking on-line assessments, and refreshing my inbox prefer it was my job. At first, I felt fairly assured. I had initiatives beneath my belt, I’d labored exhausting, and I believed I used to be prepared.

However then … the rejections began piling up.

One after one other.

It was discouraging, truthfully. I began questioning if I used to be actually reduce out for tech. Perhaps I didn’t have “it.” Perhaps I used to be simply one other résumé in a large pile. I bear in mind staring on the Cisco internship utility and pondering, “There’s no approach I’ll get in.”

However one way or the other, I satisfied myself to simply click on submit.

That One Sure When the choice record got here out, I didn’t even count on to see my identify, however there it was.

I used to be going to intern at Cisco.

That second shifted one thing in me. I felt like possibly, simply possibly, I belonged. I began brushing up on my abilities, revisiting fundamentals, diving into AI and methods — attempting to be as prepared as doable.

Then got here Might 2024, and my summer season internship at Cisco started.

Why Cisco Felt Completely different — and Why That Mattered From the very first day, I knew Cisco was completely different. It wasn’t nearly work. It was about individuals.

I met a staff that didn’t count on me to have all of the solutions. They didn’t make me really feel like I needed to show myself each second. As a substitute, they gave me one thing I didn’t even know I wanted — house — house to be taught, house to ask questions (even the foolish ones), house to develop with out worry of failing.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-475903 alignleft" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.20.15.jpeg" alt="" width="452" height="603" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.20.15-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/7YqjXxF1-WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.20.15-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-04-at-12.20.15.jpeg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 452px) 100vw, 452px"/> There have been so many little issues that made a huge effect, too. Like how somebody would at all times drop a studying useful resource simply after I was caught, or how informal tea breaks was deep discussions about profession targets, and the way nobody made me really feel “like simply an intern.”

We performed video games collectively, had random rant classes (sure, these assist), and shared laughs over issues that had nothing to do with code. It felt human. And for somebody who felt misplaced simply months earlier, that meant every part.

The Ripple Impact That summer season at Cisco didn’t simply influence my LinkedIn — it modified how I noticed myself.

I began taking part extra in school actions. I took on management roles. I grew to become the AI Lead for the Affiliation for Computing Equipment (ACM CSS) chapter at my school, gained a hackathon, and ultimately, acquired a letter for a spring internship and a full-time provide from Cisco.

That one sure modified every part. Cisco didn’t simply give me a stepping stone — it gave me a springboard. The truth that I may come again for an additional internship after which transfer right into a full-time function confirmed me that at Cisco, progress isn’t simply inspired — it’s doable. You don’t have to decide on one path. You’re given the liberty to discover the place you need to go, trusted to tackle new challenges, and given the help to really get there.

Beginning the intern journey once more in spring felt acquainted — however in one of the simplest ways. I wasn’t the identical particular person I used to be a yr in the past. And Cisco wasn’t only a firm anymore — it felt like a spot I belonged.

#LoveWhereYouWork — And Being Trusted to Do It As a Software program Engineering Intern, I get to work on the intersection of methods and AI — two evolving areas that genuinely problem and excite me. However truthfully? The most effective half isn’t simply the work. It’s how I’m trusted to do the work. I’ve had the liberty to make choices, the possibility to be taught from errors, and the help to ask, “Why not do that?”

That type of tradition? It’s uncommon.

To Anybody Who’s Nonetheless Figuring It Out … When you’re the place I used to be — watching job boards, feeling such as you’re falling behind, doubting your self — I need to say this: don’t quit on your self.

Apply for that function even should you don’t really feel “prepared.” Ask questions even should you suppose they’re primary. Take that probability, even should you suppose you gained’t make it.