A young software engineer, just beginning his journey in the tech world, shared a heartbreaking experience that left him feeling shattered and defeated. Fresh out of college and eager to prove himself, he poured more than 13 hours into resolving a critical technical issue—only to be reprimanded publicly by his manager the very next day.
In a deeply personal post that quickly gained attention on Reddit, the young professional expressed that he had felt genuinely proud of his hard work. Solving the complex issue had taken intense focus, determination, and overtime dedication. He believed he’d gone above and beyond to ensure things were running smoothly. But his pride quickly turned to humiliation during the following morning’s team meeting.
“Yesterday, I spent over 13 hours fixing a major issue. I was exhausted but proud,” he wrote. “But today, in front of the entire team, my manager scolded me for being slow. It completely broke me.”
What added insult to injury was the betrayal he felt from a senior colleague who was supposed to be mentoring him. When the manager questioned why the fix had taken so long, the senior deflected all responsibility and pinned the blame solely on the newcomer. The real cause of the delay—missing system files—was never acknowledged.
“My mentor blatantly lied when asked about the delay,” he explained. “He put it all on me, when the truth is that critical files were missing. I felt thrown under the bus.”
The emotional toll was immediate. The young engineer said he felt crushed, lost confidence in himself, and even considered quitting the team. But amid the discouragement, Reddit users rallied around him with support, encouragement, and hard-earned wisdom.
One commenter warned against silence in the face of false accusations: “If someone’s spreading lies about your work—speak up. Don’t wait. Even if leadership is present, defend your integrity.”
Others advised him to treat this painful chapter as a lesson in surviving office politics. Many emphasized the importance of documentation, transparent communication, and maintaining a visible record of tasks and conversations.
“Never share critical info only in private chats,” one user wrote. “Make sure your work and communication are always visible to your manager and team.”
While the young professional felt broken in the moment, the experience resonated with many. Fellow employees from around the world assured him that growing pains are a brutal but universal part of starting a career. And most importantly—they reminded him not to let one unfair incident define his self-worth or derail his journey.
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“Yesterday, I spent over 13 hours fixing a major issue. I was exhausted but proud,” he wrote. “But today, in front of the entire team, my manager scolded me for being slow. It completely broke me.”
What added insult to injury was the betrayal he felt from a senior colleague who was supposed to be mentoring him. When the manager questioned why the fix had taken so long, the senior deflected all responsibility and pinned the blame solely on the newcomer. The real cause of the delay—missing system files—was never acknowledged.
“My mentor blatantly lied when asked about the delay,” he explained. “He put it all on me, when the truth is that critical files were missing. I felt thrown under the bus.”
The emotional toll was immediate. The young engineer said he felt crushed, lost confidence in himself, and even considered quitting the team. But amid the discouragement, Reddit users rallied around him with support, encouragement, and hard-earned wisdom.
One commenter warned against silence in the face of false accusations: “If someone’s spreading lies about your work—speak up. Don’t wait. Even if leadership is present, defend your integrity.”
Others advised him to treat this painful chapter as a lesson in surviving office politics. Many emphasized the importance of documentation, transparent communication, and maintaining a visible record of tasks and conversations.
“Never share critical info only in private chats,” one user wrote. “Make sure your work and communication are always visible to your manager and team.”
While the young professional felt broken in the moment, the experience resonated with many. Fellow employees from around the world assured him that growing pains are a brutal but universal part of starting a career. And most importantly—they reminded him not to let one unfair incident define his self-worth or derail his journey.
