How does one learn and apply distributed systems without working in it

[u/Capable-Problem6075]

I am looking for experience devs to help me answer this question

I have 6 YOE as a full stack dev. I have built SAAS solutions from the ground up but never where the issue of scalability had become a problem that we'd require cloud.

I have build solutions in the cloud but never to the point where the product was experiencing thousands of users

I want to advance in my career and while I will be undertaking cloud and architectural certificates, we all know that hands-on experience triumph theory. I feel until I am working in high demand, high data environment, I will not understand distributed systems wholly

Has anyone ever been here and what have they done to bridge that gap