I've been where you were at too. The problem is, no matter how good of a real day to day job I've done and what practical real world skills I've learned, "when

I've been where you were at too. The problem is, no matter how good of a real day to day job I've done and what practical real world skills I've learned, "when the next opportunity comes around" as you say, I wasn't ready to take it - because I got burned by leetcode interviews that have nothing to do with the above. I too, want to do everything you mention, but until I get past the leetcode gatekeepers, it doesn't matter.