u/Altruistic-Nature583

22:30 Hi. I'm 21, female, lesbian, and very much in the closet in India. This is probably going to be a long post but I just need to get this out somewhere.

I always told myself I wanted to move abroad for money and a better lifestyle. But I've slowly realized the real reason is freedom. The kind of freedom I simply cannot have here as a queer woman. To be with a woman, to live my life openly, to just exist without hiding. That realization hit differently.

The part that hurts most is what staying here actually means. It means at some point the arranged marriage conversations will start. I come from a decent upper middle class family, sober, traditional, genuinely good people. But I'm almost certain they've never even encountered the concept of someone being LGBT. There's no one in my family, as far as I know, who is queer. So there's no roadmap, no reference point, nothing.

If I end up in an arranged marriage with a man, I won't be able to give him what he deserves, a partner who actually wants to be with him, or kids. Because honestly I don't even want to carry my own children. I'm curious, do even straight women feel that way sometimes? I feel like that's another thing I can't openly talk about around here.

So moving abroad feels like the only real exit. But that comes with its own grief. Leaving my mum. Cutting ties with relatives. Walking away from the food, the homeliness, the culture I grew up in. It's not an easy trade even if it's the necessary one. Stay and slowly suffocate, or leave and grieve everything familiar.

And on top of all of this I'm a fresh grad, unemployed, introverted, and just generally trying to figure out what I'm even doing with my life. Career stress, identity crisis, family pressure, health stuff, it's all happening at the same time.

I'm not really looking for advice necessarily. I just want to hear from people who've been through something similar or are going through it right now. Your stories, your experiences, your thoughts. Even just knowing someone else has felt this exact weight would help.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

IT is dying

AI will replace everyone

the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

How did you figure things out?

Did switching fields work out?

Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

IT is dying

AI will replace everyone

the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

How did you figure things out?

Did switching fields work out?

Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

IT is dying

AI will replace everyone

the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

How did you figure things out?

Did switching fields work out?

Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

IT is dying

AI will replace everyone

the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

How did you figure things out?

Did switching fields work out?

Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

IT is dying

AI will replace everyone

the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

How did you figure things out?

Did switching fields work out?

Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

IT is dying

AI will replace everyone

the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

How did you figure things out?

Did switching fields work out?

Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Tomorrow is my last paper and officially the last day of my college life.

my_qualifications: BTech Mechanical Engineering, ~8 CGPA. No on-campus offer, no off-campus offer, no competitive exam prep, and honestly no clear direction right now.

A big part of my confusion is that I don’t think I even want to work in core mechanical anymore. Most of the jobs I saw during placements were factory/shop floor/night-shift type roles, and I realized I probably can’t do that long-term. I randomly chose this branch after 12th without really understanding the actual career path, and now I regret it.

Now I’m thinking about switching into IT/data analytics, but everywhere online people say:

• IT is dying
• AI will replace everyone
• the market is saturated

At the same time, how is core mechanical doing any better right now? Especially for someone who wants more office-based work, better salary growth, and flexibility?

People tell me to prepare for GATE/ESE/government exams, but those paths are insanely competitive too, especially for general category students.

So what do people like me actually do after graduation?

How common is it to graduate with no placement and no plan? How do people deal with staying at home after college feeling completely lost while parents keep asking what’s next?

If anyone has genuinely been through this phase:

• How did you figure things out?
• Did switching fields work out?
• Is trying to enter IT/data analytics in 2026 actually a bad idea?

Not looking for motivational quotes. Just honest advice from people who’ve been here before.

Hey everyone,

I am looking to buy my first ever proper gaming laptop. I’ve been a MacBook user for a long time, so I’m used to a very smooth, fast, and physically rigid system. My old ASUS Ryzen 3/5 laptop just isn't cutting it anymore—it barely pushes 100-110 FPS on low settings in Valorant and sounds like a jet engine.

Budget: Rs. 1,30,000/- Country: India Use Case: Gaming Preferred Specs: 32GB RAM, RTX 4060 or more. Notes:

What I intend to play:

Competitive games like Valorant and Dota 2 (looking for high, stable FPS).

Heavy AAA games like Spider-Man Remastered.

Future-proofing for upcoming heavy titles like GTA 6 next year(hopefully :))

My Requirements:

I would ideally love 32GB RAM.

AMD Ryzen seems preferred over Intel for better thermals/battery based on my basic research, but open to correction.

I want to stick to well-known, reliable brands with good build quality and structural rigidity (like Lenovo Legion, HP Omen, or ASUS). I want to avoid cheap, plastic-heavy budget frames that flex or rattle.

This will mostly sit on a desk as a dedicated gaming station (I might occasionally use an external monitor down the line).

The catch: I am completely new to the gaming world and don't know much about laptop configurations, TGP wattages, upgradable parts etc. Could you guys please explain what key terms I should look out for while buying, and suggest the absolute best laptop models that fit my budget and wants?

Thanks in advance for the help!

my_qualifications:

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old fresh Mech grad and I'm honestly lost, so I need some real advice.

Where I stand:

8 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering

Zero interest in core Mech roles (the environment, the physicality of the work – it's just not for me, and I've accepted that)

Tried on/off campus placements for core roles – nothing worked out

No coding background from college – no DSA, no serious projects. College itself was stressful and I couldn't do it all

What I want:

A job – any decent job – by end of 2025

Work experience before an MS abroad (targeting 2027-28, maybe in MIS, Data Analytics, or Industrial Engg – open to suggestions on this too)

I have a personal deadline I need to meet. Staying home jobless at 21 is already hard on me and my family.

Options I've looked at:

Data/Business Analyst – I know it's saturated. But it seems like the most accessible path for a non-CS person

Software Testing (Manual/Automation) – Not many openings? Unsure if this is worth pursuing

IT Support roles – Don't currently have the skills to clear those interviews

What I need from you:

Given my timeline (5-6 months of dedicated full-time prep), which ONE skill stack should I go all-in on?

Is Data Analytics still viable in India for a fresher with no CS background in 2025, or am I chasing a dead end?

Any other roles or paths I haven't considered?

Was choosing work ex before MS the right call? I believe it is, but would appreciate validation or a reality check.

I'm ready to put my entire day into this. I just need to stop being confused and start moving in one direction. Please be honest – even if it's hard to hear. Just no "go back to Mech" – I've made peace with that decision.

Thanks in advance. 🙏

my_qualifications:

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old fresh Mech grad and I'm honestly lost, so I need some real advice.

Where I stand:

8 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering

Zero interest in core Mech roles (the environment, the physicality of the work – it's just not for me, and I've accepted that)

Tried on/off campus placements for core roles – nothing worked out

No coding background from college – no DSA, no serious projects. College itself was stressful and I couldn't do it all

What I want:

A job – any decent job – by end of 2025

Work experience before an MS abroad (targeting 2027-28, maybe in MIS, Data Analytics, or Industrial Engg – open to suggestions on this too)

I have a personal deadline I need to meet. Staying home jobless at 21 is already hard on me and my family.

Options I've looked at:

Data/Business Analyst – I know it's saturated. But it seems like the most accessible path for a non-CS person

Software Testing (Manual/Automation) – Not many openings? Unsure if this is worth pursuing

IT Support roles – Don't currently have the skills to clear those interviews

What I need from you:

Given my timeline (5-6 months of dedicated full-time prep), which ONE skill stack should I go all-in on?

Is Data Analytics still viable in India for a fresher with no CS background in 2025, or am I chasing a dead end?

Any other roles or paths I haven't considered?

Was choosing work ex before MS the right call? I believe it is, but would appreciate validation or a reality check.

I'm ready to put my entire day into this. I just need to stop being confused and start moving in one direction. Please be honest – even if it's hard to hear. Just no "go back to Mech" – I've made peace with that decision.

Thanks in advance. 🙏

my_qualifications:

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old fresh Mech grad and I'm honestly lost, so I need some real advice.

Where I stand:

8 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering

Zero interest in core Mech roles (the environment, the physicality of the work – it's just not for me, and I've accepted that)

Tried on/off campus placements for core roles – nothing worked out

No coding background from college – no DSA, no serious projects. College itself was stressful and I couldn't do it all

What I want:

A job – any decent job – by end of 2025

Work experience before an MS abroad (targeting 2027-28, maybe in MIS, Data Analytics, or Industrial Engg – open to suggestions on this too)

I have a personal deadline I need to meet. Staying home jobless at 21 is already hard on me and my family.

Options I've looked at:

Data/Business Analyst – I know it's saturated. But it seems like the most accessible path for a non-CS person

Software Testing (Manual/Automation) – Not many openings? Unsure if this is worth pursuing

IT Support roles – Don't currently have the skills to clear those interviews

What I need from you:

Given my timeline (5-6 months of dedicated full-time prep), which ONE skill stack should I go all-in on?

Is Data Analytics still viable in India for a fresher with no CS background in 2025, or am I chasing a dead end?

Any other roles or paths I haven't considered?

Was choosing work ex before MS the right call? I believe it is, but would appreciate validation or a reality check.

I'm ready to put my entire day into this. I just need to stop being confused and start moving in one direction. Please be honest – even if it's hard to hear. Just no "go back to Mech" – I've made peace with that decision.

Thanks in advance. 🙏

my_qualifications:

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old fresh Mech grad and I'm honestly lost, so I need some real advice.

Where I stand:

8 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering

Zero interest in core Mech roles (the environment, the physicality of the work – it's just not for me, and I've accepted that)

Tried on/off campus placements for core roles – nothing worked out

No coding background from college – no DSA, no serious projects. College itself was stressful and I couldn't do it all

What I want:

A job – any decent job – by end of 2025

Work experience before an MS abroad (targeting 2027-28, maybe in MIS, Data Analytics, or Industrial Engg – open to suggestions on this too)

I have a personal deadline I need to meet. Staying home jobless at 21 is already hard on me and my family.

Options I've looked at:

Data/Business Analyst – I know it's saturated. But it seems like the most accessible path for a non-CS person

Software Testing (Manual/Automation) – Not many openings? Unsure if this is worth pursuing

IT Support roles – Don't currently have the skills to clear those interviews

What I need from you:

Given my timeline (5-6 months of dedicated full-time prep), which ONE skill stack should I go all-in on?

Is Data Analytics still viable in India for a fresher with no CS background in 2025, or am I chasing a dead end?

Any other roles or paths I haven't considered?

Was choosing work ex before MS the right call? I believe it is, but would appreciate validation or a reality check.

I'm ready to put my entire day into this. I just need to stop being confused and start moving in one direction. Please be honest – even if it's hard to hear. Just no "go back to Mech" – I've made peace with that decision.

Thanks in advance. 🙏

my_qualifications:

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old fresh Mech grad and I'm honestly lost, so I need some real advice.

Where I stand:

8 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering

Zero interest in core Mech roles (the environment, the physicality of the work – it's just not for me, and I've accepted that)

Tried on/off campus placements for core roles – nothing worked out

No coding background from college – no DSA, no serious projects. College itself was stressful and I couldn't do it all

What I want:

A job – any decent job – by end of 2025

Work experience before an MS abroad (targeting 2027-28, maybe in MIS, Data Analytics, or Industrial Engg – open to suggestions on this too)

I have a personal deadline I need to meet. Staying home jobless at 21 is already hard on me and my family.

Options I've looked at:

Data/Business Analyst – I know it's saturated. But it seems like the most accessible path for a non-CS person

Software Testing (Manual/Automation) – Not many openings? Unsure if this is worth pursuing

IT Support roles – Don't currently have the skills to clear those interviews

What I need from you:

Given my timeline (5-6 months of dedicated full-time prep), which ONE skill stack should I go all-in on?

Is Data Analytics still viable in India for a fresher with no CS background in 2025, or am I chasing a dead end?

Any other roles or paths I haven't considered?

Was choosing work ex before MS the right call? I believe it is, but would appreciate validation or a reality check.

I'm ready to put my entire day into this. I just need to stop being confused and start moving in one direction. Please be honest – even if it's hard to hear. Just no "go back to Mech" – I've made peace with that decision.

Thanks in advance. 🙏

my_qualifications:

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old fresh Mech grad and I'm honestly lost, so I need some real advice.

Where I stand:

8 CGPA, Mechanical Engineering

Zero interest in core Mech roles (the environment, the physicality of the work – it's just not for me, and I've accepted that)

Tried on/off campus placements for core roles – nothing worked out

No coding background from college – no DSA, no serious projects. College itself was stressful and I couldn't do it all

What I want:

A job – any decent job – by end of 2026

Work experience before an MS abroad (targeting 2027-28, maybe in MIS, Data Analytics, or Industrial Engg – open to suggestions on this too)

I have a personal deadline I need to meet. Staying home jobless at 21 is already hard on me and my family.

Options I've looked at:

Data/Business Analyst – I know it's saturated. But it seems like the most accessible path for a non-CS person

Software Testing (Manual/Automation) – Not many openings? Unsure if this is worth pursuing

IT Support roles – Don't currently have the skills to clear those interviews

What I need from you:

Given my timeline (5-6 months of dedicated full-time prep), which ONE skill stack should I go all-in on?

Is Data Analytics still viable in India for a fresher with no CS background in 2026, or am I chasing a dead end?

Any other roles or paths I haven't considered?

Was choosing work ex before MS the right call? I believe it is, but would appreciate validation or a reality check.

I'm ready to put my entire day into this. I just need to stop being confused and start moving in one direction. Please be honest – even if it's hard to hear. Just no "go back to Mech" – I've made peace with that decision.

Thanks in advance. 🙏