sithira.me

After years in Software Engineering, I decided it was time for a change. With AI rapidly automating most of the coding work, I felt the field was losing the spark it once had for me. So I'm making the switch to Data Engineering, a field I have always been drawn to, and this is the story of my plan, my progress, and what is driving me forward.

A year after creating my blog and barely keeping it alive, I finally gave it the attention it deserved. What started as a simple theme change turned into a full redesign with new features, a new workflow, and a renewed excitement to actually write. Here's what changed, what I built, and why I'm genuinely happy with where it ended up.

A few months into my transition from Software Engineering to Data Engineering, I stumbled onto a way to get a free Snowflake certification voucher. It took a bit of hunting, a live training session, and a tight 10-day study window, but I walked away with a certificate and zero cost. Here's exactly how it happened.

I missed my chance at Google Summer of Code during my undergraduate years, and it always stuck with me. When my MSc made me eligible again, I wasn't going to let it slip by a second time. I found an interesting project, put together what I thought was a solid proposal, and gave it my best shot. It didn't work out, but I'm still glad I tried.

This article shares a first hand account of passing the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam with a score of 819, starting from zero cloud experience. It outlines an eight week preparation plan using Udemy coursse and Tutorials Dojo practice exams, with AI tools to fill knowledge gaps. It also covers exam day strategy, time management tips, and plans to move into Data Engineering next.