I remember staring at my laptop screen, fingers hesitating over the trackpad. Photoshop was open, but I had no idea where to start. The toolbar looked like a foreign language, and every button felt like a mystery. “Can I really do this?” I wondered.

Starting from scratch felt overwhelming. I didn’t have any fancy tools, just my determination and a laptop. But I had one goal — to become a graphic designer.

The First Few Days: Frustration & Small Wins

I enrolled in a 30-day Photoshop course on Udemy, thinking, How hard can it be? Well, the first few days proved me wrong. Selecting layers, understanding blending modes, and using the pen tool? I felt like I was fighting a battle with my own hand coordination.

But then, something changed. I made my first simple design — a basic social media post. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. That tiny win fueled me to keep going.

Falling into a routine

Each day became a mix of learning, practicing, and experimenting. My routine looked something like this:
☀️ Morning — A quick scroll through Pinterest for inspiration.
🎨 Afternoon — Watching my Udemy lessons, pausing to practice.
💡 Evening — Trying to recreate designs, failing, tweaking, and learning.

Some days, I felt unstoppable. Other days, imposter syndrome whispered, You’re not creative enough. But I pushed through.

The Turning Point

Somewhere around Day 20, I realized I wasn’t just following tutorials — I was experimenting. I started working on real projects, designing posters, and understanding the “why” behind each tool.

I stopped worrying about perfection and started enjoying the process. Every mistake was a lesson. Every finished design was a reminder of how far I had come.

Where I Am Now & What’s Next?

Now, I can confidently say I know my way around Photoshop. I’m not an expert, but I can create. And that’s enough to keep me going.

If you’re starting your journey, remember:
• Everyone starts from zero.
• Progress is slow, but it’s still progress.
• Keep sharing your work, even if it’s not perfect.

This is just the beginning for me. My next step? Building a portfolio, working on real projects, and sharing everything I learn.

Every click, every mistake, every late-night edit — it all adds up to progress. If my journey resonates with you, give this post a clap (or a few!) and follow me for more stories on creativity, design, and the art of showing up.

Let’s keep creating. Let’s keep learning. The next click might just change everything!