Rijul Singh Malik : Success Is Not About Perfect Timelines, It’s About Refusing to Give Up (AI Consultant, 33k Followers)

 

“Every rejection pushed me further away from certainty, but closer to growth.”

Q. How did you maintain confidence in your abilities during a journey filled with constant setbacks and uncertainty before finally landing at Google?

Honestly, there were phases where I completely lost confidence in myself. What kept me going was not self-belief, but the unwavering support of the people around me. My fiancée, parents, and sister continued believing in me even during my lowest moments, and that support slowly helped me rebuild myself. I realized that sometimes confidence is protected by the people who love you until you’re strong enough to carry it again.

Looking back, I realized confidence is not always something you protect alone. Sometimes, the people who love you protect it for you until you find the strength to carry it yourself again.

Q. Do you think students today are too obsessed with “perfect timelines” in life?

Absolutely. Society has created unrealistic timelines for success, making people feel behind if their journey looks different. I faced setbacks at almost every stage ; from my JEE drop year to multiple GRE attempts and academic probation, yet still ended up at Google. Life rewards growth, persistence, and patience far more than perfectly timed milestones.

Q. Coming from a non-target background, did you ever feel the system was designed more for privilege than potential?

Yes, definitely. Students from top colleges often receive easier access to opportunities through stronger networks and visibility. Coming from a non-target background meant facing more rejection and a much longer path. But over time, I realized that while privilege may open doors faster, resilience and consistent hard work can still break through those barriers.

Q. During your Master’s at UC Irvine, how did you deal with academic probation mentally and emotionally?

Academic probation was one of the hardest phases of my life. I struggled with shame, anxiety, loneliness, and the fear of disappointing my family after they had sacrificed so much for me. What eventually helped me recover was asking for help, focusing on one step at a time, and refusing to give up despite everything feeling uncertain. That experience taught me that asking for support is never weakness.

Q. Today you work on AI and LLM solutions at Google. How do you see AI changing opportunities for students from unconventional backgrounds?

I believe AI is one of the biggest equalizers of our generation. Students today, regardless of their background or college, have access to powerful tools that can help them learn, build, and prepare independently. While AI is raising the bar for skills like creativity and problem-solving, it is also making opportunities more accessible and less dependent on pedigree.

Q. Many students compare themselves constantly on LinkedIn and Instagram. How dangerous is comparison culture today?

Comparison culture is extremely damaging because social media only shows curated highlights, not the struggles behind them. During some of my toughest moments, constantly seeing others celebrate achievements made me feel even more behind. Over time, I realized that comparing your real life to someone else’s edited version only steals your peace and prevents you from appreciating your own journey.

Bio

Rijul is a Digital Transformation Consultant at Google, where he works on AI and LLM solutions for enterprise clients. Originally from Delhi, he completed his B.Tech from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and went on to pursue a Master’s in Data Science from University of California, Irvine.

His journey to Google, however, was far from conventional. From struggling through multiple setbacks, including failing JEE twice, attempting the GRE four times, facing academic probation during his Master’s, and enduring over 520 rejections, Rijul’s story is one of resilience, perseverance, and relentless self-belief.

Beyond his professional work in AI, Rijul actively shares his experiences on Instagram and LinkedIn, inspiring students from non-target colleges and aspiring study-abroad candidates who often feel overlooked by the system. Through his honesty about failure, mental health, comparison culture, and persistence, he continues to encourage young people to trust their own journeys and keep moving forward despite uncertainty.

Instagram

Interviewed By Anushka Agarwal