When people ask where I want to be in 10 years, I don't give a vague answer. I have a plan — a real, staged, deliberate plan that I've been building since high school. Not because I have it all figured out, but because having direction, even an imperfect one, is what separates people who drift from people who grow.
Here's how I think about my decade in tech.
Stage 1: Get In the Door (Years 1–2 After Graduation)
After graduating college, my first goal is an entry-level position as a technology support specialist or data analyst. This isn't glamorous, and that's the point. As a support specialist, you troubleshoot hardware, respond to real user problems, and maintain systems. You see how technology actually works in production — not in textbooks.
This stage is about learning the ground floor of an industry before you try to build on it.
Stage 2: Go Deep on Software (Years 3–5)
Once I have my footing, I want to move into a software engineering or developer role. Create applications. Monitor networks. Manage operating systems. This is where technical depth gets built.
I also plan to keep learning outside of work — certifications, side projects, open-source contributions. In tech, your education doesn't stop when school does.
Stage 3: Lead (Years 6–8)
A leadership position as an IT manager — or a senior engineering role — is next. Leadership in tech isn't just about knowing the most. It's about translating technical complexity into decisions that move an organization forward. Learning to lead people, manage projects, and communicate up and down the chain is a skill set that takes years to develop.
"Not only will I learn how to better cooperate with and lead co-workers, but I'll also witness first-hand the skills and mindset needed to run a successful technology company."
Stage 4: Build Something (Years 9–10+)
This is the one I'm most excited about. After growing as a person and gathering extensive knowledge in the field, I plan to start my own business or nonprofit focused on using technology to help underprivileged students and families.
The website I started building in high school — the one to help low-income students through the college application process — is a preview of what I want to do at scale. Combine technology with community impact. That's my endgame.
How to Build Your Own Plan
You don't need to have it all figured out. But having a direction changes how you make every smaller decision — what classes to take, what internships to pursue, what skills to build.
- Start with your "why." What do you want technology (or whatever your field is) to do for the world?
- Work backwards. If that's where you want to end up, what do you need to know? What experience do you need first?
- Plan in stages, not steps. You can't plan every move 10 years out. Plan the next phase clearly and trust that the one after it will become clearer as you go.
- Write it down. A plan that only exists in your head isn't really a plan.