‘Reality Hit Differently’: Indian-Origin Man In US Shares Snippet Of Life After College

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Last Updated:June 20, 2025, 23:42 IST

Chintamneedi, who earned a BA in Strategic and Corporate Communications from Chapman University, shared a heartfelt message on LinkedIn

Gaurav Chintamneedi is an Operations Leader at Amazon in the US.

Indian-origin Gaurav Chintamneedi, who works as an Operations Leader at Amazon in the US, has struck a chord with many on LinkedIn after candidly sharing his struggles transitioning from university to the corporate world.

Chintamneedi, who earned a BA in Strategic and Corporate Communications from Chapman University, posted a heartfelt message titled, “You Didn’t Peak in College; the Transition Is Difficult and That’s Ok." The post quickly went viral on the platform.

He began by recalling his expectations: “When I first arrived in the DMV, I imagined living the dream early-20s life—like the ones we see on TV or romanticize on social media. I pictured myself working a 9–5, grabbing drinks with coworkers after work, striking up conversations with strangers on the metro who’d eventually become close friends. I thought weekends would be filled with brunches, coffee shop side projects, and late-night online courses to build new skills."

But reality was far different. Gaurav shared that he routinely worked 50–60 hours a week, sometimes waking as early as 3 am for “opening shifts." Weekends were consumed by overtime, and his few rare days off were spent recuperating.

“I found myself lying in bed doom‑scrolling on Instagram, drained from six consecutive days of work… Making new connections in a new city wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped. I even started to wonder: Did I peak in college?"

Rather than complain, Gaurav offered perspective and solidarity. “This post isn’t a complaint—it’s an acknowledgment. Because I know that struggling with this transition is quite normal."

He admitted he still misses college and sometimes scrolls through old photos. But as he reached the one‑year mark post‑graduation, he began to reframe the experience:

“Nope, although I feel it, this year hasn’t been wasted time. It’s been a year of progress that encompasses tenacity, self‑realisation and redefining purpose… Adjusting to a new society and lifestyle takes time. At the end of the day, it’s a life skill that you’re now equipped with for the future."

Gaurav also offered three practical “mindset shifts" to help recent graduates:

Accept that college is over—and that’s okay. That lifestyle isn’t coming back, but that doesn’t mean better days aren’t ahead. Life can still be fulfilling, exciting, and full of growth.
Gratitude is everything. Practice gratitude daily. It keeps you grounded and reminds you of the good around—even on the hardest days.
Progress is Progress. Just because the past year hasn’t been as exciting as the previous four years of university, doesn’t mean you peaked in college. Adjusting takes time, and even though life has become more routine-like, you’ve made tons of progress just by sticking it through this past year.

The response to Gaurav’s post has been overwhelmingly positive. One user praised his advice, writing: “Love the introspection and advice G! As you’ve said, the 20’s is undoubtedly a challenging time for many of us.… You’ve truly grown so much this past year."

Another commented: “Exactly what I needed to hear! You’re awesome, G!"

“Thank you for posting this! This was so encouraging, especially since I just graduated a few weeks ago!" another user wrote.

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