Starting the Outreachy internship has been great in more ways than one. Not only did I get the opportunity to improve my coding skills and start contributing to open source, but I also got the chance to meet amazing new people from around the world. The supportive community within Outreachy has been invaluable in helping me navigate the challenges of working on open source projects. I am grateful for the mentorship and guidance I have received so far, and this week I got the opportunity to have an informal chat with some of my mentors and an outreachy alumna who shared their experiences and offered valuable advice. It was inspiring to hear about their journeys, and today I want to share some of the key takeaways from our conversation.
The first thing that I was most curious about was: how did they build a career in open source? The answer was actually quite simple; they emphasised the importance of consistent contributions, networking within the community, and showcasing their skills through project work. Two of my mentors, Shivani Bhardwaj and Juliana Fajardini Reichow, both got their start in open source through Outreachy. They both stressed the importance of taking advantage of programs like Outreachy to gain hands-on experience and make connections in the open source community. Additionally, they highlighted the significance of being active in open source communities and consistently contributing to projects that align with your areas of interest. By actively participating in open source projects, individuals can not only enhance their skills but also build a strong network of like-minded professionals. This can lead to valuable opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career advancement within the tech industry.
I also had a chat with another one of my mentors, Philippe Antoine, who is the CEO and founder of Catena Cyber. Philippe emphasised the importance of staying up-to-date with industry trends and continuously seeking opportunities for growth and learning. He shared valuable insights on leveraging open source contributions to stand out in a competitive market. Philippe started his company to help improve the cybersecurity level by freely developing tools for cybersecurity experts. He is currently providing his expertise to the Open Information Security Foundation on improving their network intrusion detection and prevention tool, Suricata.
Aside from this, I also had the privilege of getting in touch with Tharushi Jayasekara, who is also an Outreachy alumna. She leveraged her experience from Outreachy to pursue a PhD degree in Computer Science from Cornell University. Talking with Tharushi made me realise that one can truly make a difference in the tech field by leveraging opportunities like Outreachy to further their education and career. Her journey serves as an inspiration for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the industry.
Finally, these chats highlighted the importance of continuous learning and networking in the tech industry, showing me that there are endless possibilities for growth and success. Overall, my experience with Outreachy has been invaluable in expanding my knowledge and connecting me with inspiring individuals.
References
https://catenacyber.fr/index-en.html
https://suricata.io/team/shivani-bhardwaj/
https://github.com/jufajardini
https://tharushijay.github.io/
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