Growing: Accepted as an Outreachy Intern

I'm bursting with excitement to share some news – I've been accepted as an Outreachy intern! For those unfamiliar, Outreachy is a program that provides paid internships for people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technical industry where they are living. These internships are in open source and open science. For those who know me, I've always been passionate about technology and contributing to open source projects, and this opportunity feels like a dream come true.

My journey to this point wasn't always smooth. I was rejected twice in previous applications and faced challenges like navigating complex codebases and overcoming self-doubt. But through it all, I persevered, driven by a desire to learn and contribute. Participating in online communities, contributing to open source regardless of my failed applications, and seeking mentorship from experienced developers were crucial to my growth.

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” - Dale Carnegie 

Now, with my acceptance into Outreachy, I feel a surge of confidence and motivation. I'm eager to dive into my internship project with Mozilla and collaborate with my fellow intern, Promise, under the mentorship of Suhaib, who has been awesome throughout the years. This experience will undoubtedly provide invaluable learning and growth opportunities, helping me refine my technical skills and gain valuable experience in the open source community and machine learning.

But more than just the technical aspects, Outreachy represents something bigger for me. It's a platform to empower underrepresented people in tech, break down barriers, and build a more inclusive and diverse open source ecosystem. Being part of this community of passionate individuals is incredibly empowering and inspiring.

As I embark on this internship journey, I'm filled with gratitude for the Outreachy program, Mozilla, and the amazing community that supports it (The Software Freedom Conservancy). I'm excited to share my experiences and learnings along the way. I hope to encourage others to pursue their passions in technology and contribute their unique perspectives to the world of open source.

This is a huge step in my growth journey and career.  I'm eager to learn, contribute, and make a positive impact on the world through technology. Stay tuned for more updates as I embark on this exciting new chapter.