Year in Review: A Year of Purpose, Patience, and Progress

Some years pass quietly, while others reshape direction and identity. This past year stands out as a period of sustained effort, resilience, and meaningful progress—defined foremost by a major professional milestone and supported by continuous personal development.

The Most Significant Achievement: Joining the Crime Branch

One of the most significant achievements of the year was securing my first Government position as a Forensic Expert with the Crime Branch, Delhi Police.

The moment I received the selection email remains unforgettable. I read it repeatedly, uncertain at first if it was real. The first call I made was to my father, saying, "Papa, I got a job in Crime Branch." That moment represented not only professional success, but also years of patience, preparation, and quiet perseverance finally coming together.

The Journey Behind the Achievement

The path to this milestone was demanding. Preparing while waiting for the right opportunity tested emotional resilience and discipline. The uncertainty surrounding the future was constant. Daily routines lacked structure—meals, sleep, and rest were irregular—resulting in an unbalanced phase of life.

Adding to this were unfounded assumptions and rumors regarding my educational background and professional direction. While difficult to experience, these moments reinforced an important lesson: focus must remain on effort and growth rather than external judgment.

Professional Responsibility and Growth

Joining the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, marked the beginning of my professional career in forensic science. Working as a Forensic Expert involves a high level of responsibility, where precision, scientific integrity, and ethical judgment are essential.

The role has strengthened my discipline and reinforced the importance of accuracy, patience, and evidence-based reasoning in the pursuit of truth and justice.

Professional Writing Milestone

Alongside my professional responsibilities, my forensic-focused blog, Budding Forensic Expert, reached 1.29 million views this year.

What began as an initiative to document learning and share forensic insights gradually evolved into a platform accessed by a wide and diverse audience. This achievement reaffirmed the value of consistent, purpose-driven knowledge sharing.

Travel and Perspective

Travel played a meaningful role in shaping my outlook this year. Each place offered a different rhythm of life and an opportunity for reflection.

Delhi, my living and working state, became a space of responsibility and routine—where professional discipline began to take shape.

Guwahati offered a sense of calm and cultural richness, reminding me of the value of balance and quiet observation.

Kolkata stood out for its intellectual depth and emotional warmth, reinforcing the importance of history, literature, and conversation.

Varanasi provided a powerful reminder of life's impermanence and continuity, encouraging introspection and acceptance.

Ahmedabad reflected order, heritage, and simplicity, highlighting the importance of structure and values in everyday life.

Nasik offered a slower pace and space for pause, reinforcing the need for mental clarity and self-reflection.

These journeys collectively expanded my understanding of people, cultures, and perspectives, contributing to personal maturity and emotional awareness.

Reading and Reflection

Reading remained a consistent source of learning and grounding throughout the year. Each book offered distinct insights that resonated deeply with my experiences.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini highlighted resilience in the face of suffering and the quiet strength found in endurance.

And the Mountains Echoed explored interconnected lives and unspoken sacrifices, emphasizing how individual choices ripple across generations.

Peer-e-Kaamil offered reflections on faith, self-discovery, and moral alignment, reinforcing the importance of inner clarity and purposeful living.

La Haasil explored emotional struggle, longing, and personal accountability, offering insight into acceptance and confronting one's own shortcomings.

Together, these books reinforced themes of faith, patience, resilience, and emotional depth—lessons that aligned closely with the year's challenges and growth.

Lessons Learned

This year reinforced my belief in faith, patience, and consistency. One lesson became particularly clear: growth often feels lonely before it becomes visible.

External opinions and assumptions are inevitable, but sustained effort and internal conviction matter more than immediate validation.

Gratitude

I remain deeply grateful to my family, whose unwavering support during uncertain and challenging periods provided strength, stability, and encouragement when it mattered most.

Looking Ahead

As the year concludes, I move forward not only as a professional, but as a learner committed to continuous improvement. This year provided clarity, perspective, and a strong foundation for disciplined growth in the years ahead.