My Journey to My First Hackathon
Tags: hackathon, programming, career, javascript
Published: 2024-06-26 02:54:56

Ever spent hours huddled with friends, brainstorming ideas for a new app or a website? Imagine that energy, that collaborative spirit, multiplied by a hundred, fueled by gallons of coffee and the pressure of a ticking clock. That, in a nutshell, is a hackathon!

## How Fate Landed Me in My First Hackathon:

Fresh out of high school and basking in the newfound freedom of college life, I was just chilling with my group of friends. We were navigating the early days of our first year, likely comparing class schedules, dorm room mishaps, or the best places to grab lunch. Little did I know, a simple hangout was about to take an unexpected turn. Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted by a call from our professor, Hardika Ma’am.

A wave of shock washed over me as Hardika Ma’am announced, "I've registered you all for the upcoming college hackathon! It's a great opportunity to learn and showcase your skills as a team." My mind went blank. Hackathon? Skills? Here we were, a group of wide-eyed college freshmen, barely familiar with the intricacies of coding. Building a project from scratch seemed like a daunting task, worlds away from the comfortable routine of college life.

**Embracing the Challenge Together (with a Hint of Encouragement)**

Sensing our collective apprehension, Hardika Ma’am, ever the supportive mentor, assured us, "Don't worry, it's a college-level hackathon – a perfect way to get your feet wet together. I'll explain the format and even provide you with some problem statements to choose from."

She then went on to explain the concept of hackathons and the different themes teams could work on. But let's be honest, her words were slightly muffled by the blaring alarm bells going off in our heads! Here we were, a group of beginners when it came to website development, and suddenly, we were expected to participate in a hackathon.

**A Gentle Push and a Lot in Our Future**

However, Hardika Ma’am unwavering encouragement had a powerful effect. Her belief in our ability, even if it was a bit misplaced at the time, sparked a flicker of determination within us. Maybe, just maybe, we could actually do this together. "Don't worry about making something perfect," Hardika ma'am reassured us. "Just focus on learning, collaborating, and creating something the best you can as a team."

## Newbies: What We Created at the Hackathon


**Facing Reality: Our "Presentation Website"**

Okay, let's talk about our actual creation. Remember that initial shock of being hackathon newbies? Well, it translated into our project as well. Here's the thing: with limited coding knowledge, complex ideas like data visualization or mobile app development were way out of our league. So, we did what any resourceful freshman would do – we aimed for something familiar! We decided to tackle a student management platform – a system to streamline the chaos of student life, you know, like scheduling classes or managing assignments.
Now, remember how I mentioned Ms. Hardika's guidance being invaluable? Well, it reached its peak here. We bravely dove into the world of website creation, and let me tell you, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing. We relied heavily on online tutorials, endless cups of coffee, and a whole lot of "hey, how do you do this?" exchanged between us.

**The "Presentation Website" Debacle (and the Silver Lining)**

Finally, after nights fueled by sheer determination, we had something… well, something. It wasn't exactly the robust student management platform we envisioned. But hey, we had a front-end! A basic, functional front-end, but a front-end nonetheless.
Presentation day arrived, and with a mix of excitement and nervousness, we showcased our creation. The judges were polite, but their feedback was brutally honest: "Did you make a presentation website?" Ouch. Let's just say our initial dreams of a groundbreaking platform were shattered.

But here's the thing: that moment of deflation became a turning point. Sure, our project wasn't perfect, but we had built something! We took a leap of faith, learned a ton along the way, and most importantly, we didn't give up. The sting of the "presentation website" comment only fueled our motivation to keep learning and improve our skills.

## From Presentation Website to Empowered Learners: The Hackathon Aftermath

The hackathon was over. No more sleep deprivation, no more frantic coding sessions fueled by questionable energy drinks. But amidst the exhaustion, a newfound sense of accomplishment simmered. Sure, our project wasn't exactly the award-winning student management platform we envisioned. In fact, one judge's comment still echoed in our ears: "Presentation website?" Let's just say our dreams of a revolutionary platform were met with a reality check.

But here's the thing: that "presentation website" became a badge of honor in a strange way. It was a hilarious reminder of where we started – a bunch of wide-eyed newbies staring down the barrel of a coding challenge. We may not have been experts, but we were determined. We tackled online tutorials with the fervor of explorers navigating uncharted territory. Countless "hey, how do you do this?" exchanges later, we emerged with a… well, a basic, functional front-end. Not exactly Silicon Valley material, but a testament to our collective effort.

The hackathon wasn't just about the final product (although a "presentation website" does hold a certain comedic charm). It was about the journey – the late nights fueled by laughter (and maybe a few tears), the camaraderie that blossomed as we tackled challenges together, and the unexpected lessons we learned along the way.

**The Importance of the "Us" Factor**

We started as a group of individuals, each with our own tech comfort levels (ranging from "can I change my Facebook profile picture?" to "oh no, there's a semicolon missing!"). But through teamwork, open communication, and a shared sense of "we're in this together," we accomplished something bigger than ourselves. This crash course in collaboration solidified the importance of working together, especially when venturing into unfamiliar territory.

**Adaptability: Our Superpower (Except When It Wasn't)**

The world of coding is like a jungle gym – full of exciting possibilities, but also with unexpected twists and turns. Our initial vision for the project was ambitious, to say the least. But as we delved deeper, we realized our collective skillsets and the time constraint were like vines threatening to trip us up. That's when we embraced our newfound superpower – adaptability. We learned to be flexible, prioritize tasks, and find creative solutions within our limitations.

**Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zones (and Maybe Falling Flat on Our Face)**

Let's be honest, the entire concept of a hackathon was intimidating! But by taking that initial leap of faith, we opened ourselves up to a world of possibilities. We discovered that even with limited knowledge, we could still learn, create, and push ourselves beyond what we thought possible. Sure, the "presentation website" moment wasn't exactly our proudest, but it highlighted the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity. It showed us that even when things don't go according to plan, the journey itself is valuable. We learned from our mistakes, gained valuable feedback from the judges (even the brutally honest ones!), and most importantly, discovered a newfound determination to improve.

**Lifelong Learning: Our New Obsession**

This hackathon experience ignited a passion for learning within us. We realized that the world of coding is vast and constantly evolving. The excitement of creating something new, combined with the challenge of continuous learning, has become an important part of our academic journey. Who knows? Maybe next year, our project will be a masterpiece of functionality and design. But hey, even if it's another "presentation website," the journey of learning and creating will continue. After all, that's the true takeaway from this wild hackathon ride.

## The Final Word: A Springboard for the Future

The hackathon might be over, but the lessons learned are here to stay. We may have started as wide-eyed newbies, but we emerged with a newfound confidence in our abilities and a thirst for knowledge. This experience wasn't just about building a project; it was about building ourselves – as learners, collaborators, and problem-solvers. Who knows? Maybe next year, our project won't be mistaken for a "presentation website." But hey, even if it is, the journey of learning and creating will continue.

A special thanks to Hardika Ma’am. Her belief in us, even when faced with a group of coding newbies, was the spark that ignited this wild ride. Thanks for the push, for the lessons we learned, and the memories (and maybe a few meltdowns) made!

## Want to connect? Let's chat about code, or anything else that sparks your developer curiosity!

Twitter: [Bhartiyaanshul](https://twitter.com/Bhartiyaanshul)
LinkedIn: [anshulbhartiya](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshulbhartiya/)
Email: bhartiyaanshul@gmail.com