u/Emergency_Leave_1971

I’m trying to understand the best roadmap to follow. What should I learn first before jumping into tools like Selenium, Postman, SQL, Jira, etc.? Should I start with Manual Testing fundamentals or something else?

Also, can anyone recommend the best YouTube channels, websites, courses, or learning resources that are up-to-date and beginner-friendly? I’m looking for something structured rather than random tutorials.

If you were starting QA from absolute zero in 2026, what would your learning plan look like?

Thanks in advance!

I’m trying to understand the best roadmap to follow. What should I learn first before jumping into tools like Selenium, Postman, SQL, Jira, etc.? Should I start with Manual Testing fundamentals or something else?

Also, can anyone recommend the best YouTube channels, websites, courses, or learning resources that are up-to-date and beginner-friendly? I’m looking for something structured rather than random tutorials.

If you were starting QA from absolute zero in 2026, what would your learning plan look like?

Thanks in advance!

I’m trying to understand the best roadmap to follow. What should I learn first before jumping into tools like Selenium, Postman, SQL, Jira, etc.? Should I start with Manual Testing fundamentals or something else?

Also, can anyone recommend the best YouTube channels, websites, courses, or learning resources that are up-to-date and beginner-friendly? I’m looking for something structured rather than random tutorials.

If you were starting QA from absolute zero in 2026, what would your learning plan look like?

Thanks in advance!

I recently finished college and have been trying to use my free time to become more employable. I'm currently doing a web development course and building small projects alongside it.

The problem is that I constantly feel pulled in different directions.

On one hand, people tell me to keep learning because skills take time to build. On the other hand, people around me keep telling me that I should already be applying for jobs and not wait until I feel "ready."

I also spend time reading Reddit, and honestly, it has made me more anxious than motivated. I see posts from people with degrees, experience, portfolios, and sometimes even years in the industry saying they can't find jobs. Then there are endless discussions about AI, layoffs, oversaturation, and how difficult the market is.

As a fresher, it's hard not to think: if experienced people are struggling, where does that leave me?

For context, I do have an internships and skills on my resume like i did internship in power platform domain, so I'm not starting from zero. But I still feel like my skills aren't where they need to be yet. Every few days I find myself questioning whether I should continue web development, learn SQL, focus on QA, go into Business Analysis, apply for support roles, or do something completely different.

It's like every time I choose a path, I immediately start worrying that another path would have been better.

The result is that I spend a lot of time thinking about employability and not enough time actually building skills.

I'm curious how other people handled this stage of their career.

I recently finished college and have been trying to use my free time to become more employable. I'm currently doing a web development course and building small projects alongside it.

The problem is that I constantly feel pulled in different directions.

On one hand, people tell me to keep learning because skills take time to build. On the other hand, people around me keep telling me that I should already be applying for jobs and not wait until I feel "ready."

I also spend time reading Reddit, and honestly, it has made me more anxious than motivated. I see posts from people with degrees, experience, portfolios, and sometimes even years in the industry saying they can't find jobs. Then there are endless discussions about AI, layoffs, oversaturation, and how difficult the market is.

As a fresher, it's hard not to think: if experienced people are struggling, where does that leave me?

For context, I do have an internships and skills on my resume like i did internship in power platform domain, so I'm not starting from zero. But I still feel like my skills aren't where they need to be yet. Every few days I find myself questioning whether I should continue web development, learn SQL, focus on QA, go into Business Analysis, apply for support roles, or do something completely different.

It's like every time I choose a path, I immediately start worrying that another path would have been better.

The result is that I spend a lot of time thinking about employability and not enough time actually building skills.

I'm curious how other people handled this stage of their career.

I recently finished college and have been trying to use my free time to become more employable. I'm currently doing a web development course and building small projects alongside it.

The problem is that I constantly feel pulled in different directions.

On one hand, people tell me to keep learning because skills take time to build. On the other hand, people around me keep telling me that I should already be applying for jobs and not wait until I feel "ready."

I also spend time reading Reddit, and honestly, it has made me more anxious than motivated. I see posts from people with degrees, experience, portfolios, and sometimes even years in the industry saying they can't find jobs. Then there are endless discussions about AI, layoffs, oversaturation, and how difficult the market is.

As a fresher, it's hard not to think: if experienced people are struggling, where does that leave me?

For context, I do have an internships and skills on my resume like i did internship in power platform domain, so I'm not starting from zero. But I still feel like my skills aren't where they need to be yet. Every few days I find myself questioning whether I should continue web development, learn SQL, focus on QA, go into Business Analysis, apply for support roles, or do something completely different.

It's like every time I choose a path, I immediately start worrying that another path would have been better.

The result is that I spend a lot of time thinking about employability and not enough time actually building skills.

I'm curious how other people handled this stage of their career.

I recently finished college and have been trying to use my free time to become more employable. I'm currently doing a web development course and building small projects alongside it.

The problem is that I constantly feel pulled in different directions.

On one hand, people tell me to keep learning because skills take time to build. On the other hand, people around me keep telling me that I should already be applying for jobs and not wait until I feel "ready."

I also spend time reading Reddit, and honestly, it has made me more anxious than motivated. I see posts from people with degrees, experience, portfolios, and sometimes even years in the industry saying they can't find jobs. Then there are endless discussions about AI, layoffs, oversaturation, and how difficult the market is.

As a fresher, it's hard not to think: if experienced people are struggling, where does that leave me?

For context, I do have an internships and skills on my resume like i did internship in power platform domain, so I'm not starting from zero. But I still feel like my skills aren't where they need to be yet. Every few days I find myself questioning whether I should continue web development, learn SQL, focus on QA, go into Business Analysis, apply for support roles, or do something completely different.

It's like every time I choose a path, I immediately start worrying that another path would have been better.

The result is that I spend a lot of time thinking about employability and not enough time actually building skills.

I'm curious how other people handled this stage of their career.

In 2024, during a family wedding, I developed chickenpox. The night before traveling, I told my mom and aunt that I thought something was wrong because spots were appearing, but they dismissed it. The next day, after we reached the wedding venue, it became obvious that I had chickenpox.

What hurt wasn't the illness but how some relatives treated us afterward. I felt avoided and looked at differently, my mother was treated badly and often came back crying, and when we returned, some relatives acted as if they couldn't get away from us fast enough. My father was so upset that he wanted to leave immediately.

A few months later, my sister told my cousin how hurt our family had been. He sent screenshots to his mother, which created even more drama and resentment.

Later that year, we visited again while dropping off my grandmother. The atmosphere was extremely hostile. My mother's gifts were rejected, an argument broke out, my grandmother cried, my mother cried, and we left. That day I decided I never wanted to enter that house again.

It's been about two years with almost no contact. I still love my grandmother and have no issue meeting her. My problem is specifically with that house and those people because every memory connected to it is painful.

Now my grandmother keeps calling and crying, saying my cousins miss me and asking me to visit. My mother is pressuring me to go because she feels bad for her. I recently said no as gently as possible, but now I'm feeling guilty and wondering if I'm being unfair.

Am I wrong for refusing to go back to a place that brings back such bad memories?

In 2024, during a family wedding, I developed chickenpox. The night before traveling, I told my mom and aunt that I thought something was wrong because spots were appearing, but they dismissed it. The next day, after we reached the wedding venue, it became obvious that I had chickenpox.

What hurt wasn't the illness but how some relatives treated us afterward. I felt avoided and looked at differently, my mother was treated badly and often came back crying, and when we returned, some relatives acted as if they couldn't get away from us fast enough. My father was so upset that he wanted to leave immediately.

A few months later, my sister told my cousin how hurt our family had been. He sent screenshots to his mother, which created even more drama and resentment.

Later that year, we visited again while dropping off my grandmother. The atmosphere was extremely hostile. My mother's gifts were rejected, an argument broke out, my grandmother cried, my mother cried, and we left. That day I decided I never wanted to enter that house again.

It's been about two years with almost no contact. I still love my grandmother and have no issue meeting her. My problem is specifically with that house and those people because every memory connected to it is painful.

Now my grandmother keeps calling and crying, saying my cousins miss me and asking me to visit. My mother is pressuring me to go because she feels bad for her. I recently said no as gently as possible, but now I'm feeling guilty and wondering if I'm being unfair.

Am I wrong for refusing to go back to a place that brings back such bad memories?

grandmother as in my mother's side of family

When I was younger, I genuinely thought adults had life figured out. I assumed that by a certain age people would know what they wanted, feel confident in their choices, and stop questioning themselves all the time. But the older I get, the more I notice the opposite.

A lot of people seem successful from the outside. They have jobs, relationships, degrees, routines, and responsibilities. Yet when you have an honest conversation with them, many are still unsure about their careers, worried about the future, questioning their decisions, or wondering if they're actually happy.

It's almost strange how common this seems to be. Growing up, I thought uncertainty was something you eventually outgrew. Now it feels like uncertainty never really leaves, people just get better at functioning alongside it.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but sometimes I wonder if most adults are just doing their best with incomplete answers and hoping they're moving in the right direction.

Has anyone else noticed this or felt this way?

When I was younger, I genuinely thought adults had life figured out. I assumed that by a certain age people would know what they wanted, feel confident in their choices, and stop questioning themselves all the time. But the older I get, the more I notice the opposite.

A lot of people seem successful from the outside. They have jobs, relationships, degrees, routines, and responsibilities. Yet when you have an honest conversation with them, many are still unsure about their careers, worried about the future, questioning their decisions, or wondering if they're actually happy.

It's almost strange how common this seems to be. Growing up, I thought uncertainty was something you eventually outgrew. Now it feels like uncertainty never really leaves, people just get better at functioning alongside it.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but sometimes I wonder if most adults are just doing their best with incomplete answers and hoping they're moving in the right direction.

Has anyone else noticed this or felt this way?

When I was younger, I genuinely thought adults had life figured out. I assumed that by a certain age people would know what they wanted, feel confident in their choices, and stop questioning themselves all the time. But the older I get, the more I notice the opposite.

A lot of people seem successful from the outside. They have jobs, relationships, degrees, routines, and responsibilities. Yet when you have an honest conversation with them, many are still unsure about their careers, worried about the future, questioning their decisions, or wondering if they're actually happy.

It's almost strange how common this seems to be. Growing up, I thought uncertainty was something you eventually outgrew. Now it feels like uncertainty never really leaves, people just get better at functioning alongside it.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but sometimes I wonder if most adults are just doing their best with incomplete answers and hoping they're moving in the right direction.

Has anyone else noticed this or felt this way?

People say “real friendships don’t need daily conversations,” which is true to an extent. I understand everyone grows up, gets busy, starts working, dealing with responsibilities, mental exhaustion and life in general.

But sometimes it feels like friendships now survive mostly on reels, memes, reacting to stories, and occasional “we should meet soon” messages that never actually happen.

I’ve noticed that even when you still technically have friends and group chats, there’s this weird emotional distance now. Like everyone is connected all the time digitally, but barely present in each other’s actual lives anymore.

And the strange part is nobody really talks about it. We all just act like this is normal adulthood.

I genuinely can’t tell if this is just how friendships naturally evolve with age, or if social media and constant busyness slowly changed the way we connect with people.

Does anyone else feel this way?

People say “real friendships don’t need daily conversations,” which is true to an extent. I understand everyone grows up, gets busy, starts working, dealing with responsibilities, mental exhaustion and life in general.

But sometimes it feels like friendships now survive mostly on reels, memes, reacting to stories, and occasional “we should meet soon” messages that never actually happen.

I’ve noticed that even when you still technically have friends and group chats, there’s this weird emotional distance now. Like everyone is connected all the time digitally, but barely present in each other’s actual lives anymore.

And the strange part is nobody really talks about it. We all just act like this is normal adulthood.

I genuinely can’t tell if this is just how friendships naturally evolve with age, or if social media and constant busyness slowly changed the way we connect with people.

Does anyone else feel this way?

People say “real friendships don’t need daily conversations,” which is true to an extent. I understand everyone grows up, gets busy, starts working, dealing with responsibilities, mental exhaustion and life in general.

But sometimes it feels like friendships now survive mostly on reels, memes, reacting to stories, and occasional “we should meet soon” messages that never actually happen.

I’ve noticed that even when you still technically have friends and group chats, there’s this weird emotional distance now. Like everyone is connected all the time digitally, but barely present in each other’s actual lives anymore.

And the strange part is nobody really talks about it. We all just act like this is normal adulthood.

I genuinely can’t tell if this is just how friendships naturally evolve with age, or if social media and constant busyness slowly changed the way we connect with people.

Does anyone else feel this way?

So I genuinely want outside opinions on this because I don't know if I'm overreacting anymore or if my feelings actually make sense.

This is NOT about “omg someone forgot my birthday.” I know people are busy, life happens, people forget dates. I myself didn’t feel bad about many people not wishing me because obviously not everyone remembers everything and adulthood gets hectic. So please don’t turn this into a “grow up, birthdays aren’t important” thing because that’s not the actual issue here.

The issue is about closeness, effort, sincerity, and patterns.

Last year on my birthday, my friend (let’s call her P) didn’t come even after my mother personally invited her warmly. Her reason was social anxiety. I understood that and eventually forgave her because I know mental health can genuinely affect people differently. What confused me though was that before this, she had attended another gathering very enthusiastically and was completely social there. Still, I let it go because I didn’t want to invalidate her feelings.

Now this year, we are still close friends. We talk almost daily and know a lot about each other. On my birthday this year, she forgot again. No message, no call, nothing. The thing is, she literally texted me “good morning” that same day and told me she had taken wifi from her dad’s phone because she didn’t have recharge. Later her explanation for forgetting was basically that she was home and didn’t have recharge.

Now compare this to another friend of mine who is genuinely VERY forgetful. He forgets his own family members’ birthdays too. I know this about him, so when I reminded him it was my birthday, he instantly called me, explained sincerely that he had an exam and his phone was off, wished me properly, and I genuinely didn’t feel hurt at all because it felt REAL and genuine.

That’s what’s bothering me here. Not the birthday itself, but the emotional sincerity behind things.

I’m someone who puts a lot of effort into friendships. So maybe I naturally expect emotional attentiveness from people I’m close to.

And before anyone says “people don’t owe you the same energy,” I understand that too. I’m not expecting grand gestures or people worshipping me on birthdays. But if someone talks to me daily, knows me deeply, and still repeatedly fails at basic thoughtfulness while giving excuses that don’t feel genuine, am I wrong for feeling emotionally distant after that?

I forgave last year. We laughed, talked, stayed friends normally. But after this year too, it’s starting to feel less like isolated incidents and more like I emotionally invest more into this friendship than she does.

Am I overthinking this? Or is this actually a valid thing to feel hurt over?