Hacktoberfest 2023 Pledge: My Open-Source Adventure
Tags: hack23contributor
Published: 2023-11-01 01:29:37


![Hacktoberfest years](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/cttjbu8sw2ij0cvjpfzb.png)


### 🧛🏻🦇 Intro

Greetings, dear developers! Let me tell you about my adventures as a Hacktoberfest 2023 contributor. While this isn't my first Hacktoberfest, but each year brings its unique challenges and opportunities for growth. Dive into [my GitHub profile](https://github.com/beatrizsmerino) to see my for a first-hand look at my contributions and follow along.

### 🚀🏆 Highs and Lows
During Hacktoberfest 2023, I was determined to make four valuable contributions to open source projects, while experiencing the inevitable ups and downs that come with the development process. One of the contributions I am most proud of is my participation in projects developed with `Angular` and `React`, two frameworks I had not explored before.

1.[Skb08/ToDoList: Improve styles](https://github.com/Skb08/ToDoList/pull/2)
2.[Anandsg/Hungry-hero: Use tailwind to fix the responsive in mobile version](https://github.com/Anandsg/Hungry-hero/pull/227)
3.[FusionAuth/fusionauth-quickstart-javascript-angular-web: Update dependencies](https://github.com/FusionAuth/fusionauth-quickstart-javascript-angular-web/pull/6)
4.[rascui/website: Convert website to react](https://github.com/rascui/website/pull/45)

### 🍁🌰 Growth
The [2023 Hacktoberfest edition](https://hacktoberfest.com/) tested my limits. Accustomed to a specific development environment, I chose to venture into the unknown, confirming that mixing with other programmers and adopting unfamiliar languages only refines our craft.

While these efforts are highly educational, they aren't always a walk in the park.  Balancing daily work tasks with open-source contributions, not to mention personal downtime and hobbies, became an art of balance. It was a real testament to perseverance in the multifaceted realm of software development.

### 🎃👻 The Bitter-Sweet Surprise
One of the unexpected twists this year was the [absence of the Hacktoberfest T-shirt](https://leonardomontini.dev/hacktoberfest-swag-2023/), which had become a cherished tradition for many. While the absence of a physical souvenir was a bit discouraging, instead of the usual swag, I was presented with the opportunity for an even more meaningful reward, positively influencing our environment by planting a tree through [Tree-Nation](https://tree-nation.com/es/arboles/ver/5281610). This new version of the event reminds us that sometimes the most valuable rewards are not tangible, but leave a lasting legacy.

You can view my tree planting certificate [here](https://tree-nation.com/es/certificado/65301d67e1bf0).

### 🧙🔮 Wrapping Up
Despite the challenges of balancing commitments and coping with difficulties, it is worth taking a moment to participate in events like this to broaden horizons and reinforce the essence of teamwork and continuous learning. Also, seeing how your contributions are seamlessly integrated into projects used by developers around the world gives an immense sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I look forward to continuing to evolve and share knowledge with the DEV community as we look forward to what the future holds.