🚀 From 10th Grade to Freelancing Success: My Inspiring Journey! 🌟

In 2021, I was in the final month of my 10th grade, enjoying my holidays during the era of Covid. It was a difficult time for many, as my father had lost his job, leaving my mother's salary as our sole source of income. Feeling disheartened, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands and find a way to earn money. I turned to YouTube for guidance and discovered two platforms: Fiverr and Upwork. However, I lacked specific skills and experience, so I used my parents' IDs to create accounts since I was not yet 18.

I created a Fiverr gig offering graphic design services, believing that orders would start pouring in. Unfortunately, weeks passed without a single order, and I began to doubt myself. Determined to make progress, I joined graphic design groups on Facebook and offered to create free logos for the first ten people who commented on my post. Surprisingly, I received no response, which was disheartening. However, a message from a fellow Facebook user changed everything.

This individual questioned my decision to offer free services and advised against it, as people might perceive my work as cheap. Curious about their perspective, I challenged him to offer me a job. To my surprise, they revealed that they were only 15 years old and had already earned 15,000 INR without any prior experience. Inspired by their story, I saw an opportunity to prove myself.

They offered me a chance to design a business card for one of their clients, promising to refer me if I did a good job. This was a breakthrough moment for me. I dedicated hours to mastering Canva and watching tutorials, determined to create the best business card possible. Although the client wasn't completely satisfied, they acknowledged my effort and referred me to someone in need of a logo.

Eager to seize the opportunity, I contacted this potential client and offered my logo design services at a modest fee. Despite already having a logo, they agreed to let me try, and I poured my heart into creating a design that impressed him enough to ask for my payment details. When I received my first 100 INR, I couldn't contain my joy. I shared the news with my mother, who humbly offered those earnings to the divine in gratitude.

With each small victory, my confidence grew. I continued searching for clients on Facebook and soon secured a gig creating an animation video for 300 INR. Armed with just a smartphone and a simple design app, I surprised myself by crafting an enchanting mermaid design that impressed the client. This success led to more opportunities, and over the next few months, I expanded my client base, working with both Indian and overseas clients.

Six months into my freelancing journey, the client who initially hired me for Canva slides asked if I could work on WordPress. I had no prior knowledge of WordPress, but I turned to Google and YouTube for guidance, determined to learn. My client offered me $400 to create a website for him, and though I faced challenges, I managed to deliver a satisfactory result that pleased him

Impressed with my work, the client also hired me to write blogs using their premium tools. This made the task incredibly easy, and while my grades in 11th standard dipped from 95% to 85%, my earnings soared from 10,000 INR to 60,000 INR. As I entered 12th standard, I dedicated time to writing cover letters on Upwork, eventually landing a $5 job to search for YouTuber emails. This led to account verification and opened doors for me.

I wrote 2-3 proposals every day, and one day I landed a job with an Australian company to handle Microsoft To-do, Power Automate, and more. To prepare for this role, I conducted extensive research, participated in meetings, and impressed the recruiter, ultimately securing a job at $15 per hour. In a single week, working 20 hours, I earned $300—an incredible achievement for me.

Shortly afterward, I landed another job involving Zapier, a platform I was already familiar with thanks to my previous experience connecting apps for a client who needed Canva slides. Now, I had two jobs—one paying $15 per hour and the other $20 per hour. These successes prompted me to reassess my skills and focus on customer relationship management (CRM) and automation.

I optimized my profile to highlight these specialties, which opened doors to more opportunities. Currently, I am working with six different clients around the world and earning $3,000 per month. Looking back on my journey, I realize that I started without any prior experience or skills. I simply took the first step and learned as I went along. The experience came naturally over time.

Through my story, I want to emphasize that if you are seeking experience, you must start somewhere—regardless of how small or uncertain it may seem. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, explore new platforms, learn from online resources, and engage with potential clients. Success may not come instantly, but with perseverance and a commitment to self-improvement, you can carve your path toward a rewarding freelancing career. Remember, everyone starts from scratch, and experience is earned through the journey.