Embracing Realities of The Struggle 🤷🏽‍♂️

Posted by Eden Oluigbo on 20 December 2023 in English.

“The beauty of a tech journey lies in the shared struggles 🧩”

image of a thinking programmer
The quote above is a reminder that success is not a solitary path but a collective triumph over challenges. Everybody struggles 🤷🏽‍♂️. Tech’s greatest minds that we know today didn’t escape the struggle; they transformed it into the foundation of their success story. How about that?

The journey to breaking into the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry can be challenging and daunting. From the overwhelming available knowledge to the diverse backgrounds that contribute to the beauty of the industry. You may want to grab a cup of coffee if you can, let’s quickly delve into the shared experiences that unites aspiring open source enthusiasts worldwide :)

The Struggle is Real

First off, do not think you are alone in this. Nothing is wrong with you. I struggle too. I’ve had moments where I couldn’t remember a code syntax that used to be at the tip of my fingers. Sometimes, you just have to google or “stack-overflow” it! It’s part of the learning curve😎. Maybe drop a friendly message to ask someone or a tweet to ask EVERYONE! You may even look stupid or embarrassed, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. And guess what? There’s no expert who wasn’t once a beginner. Feel free to tweet https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/me

I am not an expert. I do not know it all. I am literally walking the path of a beginner, same as you. I’ve made mistakes applying knowledge of things I learnt and will make a couple more. However, I’ve learned to do better. There are a few tips that seem to work for me and I’d love to share them with you and you can share yours with me in the comments.

*Overcoming the Entry Barrier:

Navigating the world of open source as a beginner is like deciphering an alien language. You hear so many tech terms and new words that you don’t know where to begin. Half of the time you’re either consulting a tech dictionary or searching the internet for definition. The funny part is some articles might even leave you more confused! On top of that, there’s an invincible barrier faced by tech newcomers such as what area to focus on, how to contribute to open source, what programming language to learn, choosing tech stacks, imposter syndrome, and most of all, being alone!

From my experience, I’ve noticed learning within an inclusive community can peak your enthusiasm and determination to keep going. It works for me despite being an introvert and I think it might work for you too.

*A Journey not a Sprint:

I recently received an encouraging email from Outreachy directed to us (interns), and part of it says “Learning can be hard! We may struggle to understand something. We may make a lot of mistakes when we practice new skills. And that’s okay, because everyone struggles.”

The email was so timely and encouraging, and it actually inspired this blog post. I hope you find that line useful as well. Just like when we learned how to crawl or walk as kids; it may take some time but consistency will get us there. It’s a journey and not a sprint! Be open minded and learn generously, but be patient with yourself to see the growth. That being said, I’d encourage us to continue to look out for each other. Don’t be a “gatekeeper” to information or opportunities. When you find something useful that can benefit others, be generous and share it!

*Information Overload:

The abundance of information and resources available in the tech-sapce can be overwhelming. But believe it or not, some people don’t know how or where to find this information. And not being able to find the right information can hinder progress. The important aspect is knowing how to navigate the vast sea of information effectively. This is a good reason to join and learn within communities, network and connect with mentors for guidance.

A good example from my experience was during the Outreachy contribution phase; the start was overwhelming with lots of information at disposal. But everyone in our Outreachy HOTOSM slack group was collaborative with each other. We shared ideas, skills, knowledge, answered each other’s questions and shared useful information that we thought might help others. Despite the early stage of the contribution phase being overwhelming, the slack group became a shoulder to lean on. One way or the other it improved our individual contributions to HOTOSM projects as a collective group.

*The Power of Mentorship and Networking:

You don’t have to be alone in your journey. Connecting with experienced professionals and mentors is invaluable, ultimately breaking through the ignorance barrier. I have enjoyed consistent growth in my Outreachy internship at HOTOSM under the guidance of my mentor, Petya Kangalova, and networking with other staff members. In fact the first time I heard and learned about “tech4good” or “tech4impact” was through networking with Ola, a member of the HOT staff over a coffee chat and she shared so much wisdom and resources to guide my learning process. I will share the links below, in case you’re interested. Find and join an inclusive community today! If you ask me; I would recommend you join the HOTOSM community and improve your growth and journey in open source.

*Breaking Stereotypes:

It is an outdated notion that a tech career requires a tech background like a Computer Science degree or that it favours a certain age or sex. If you look hard enough, you may find someone with a similar background as yours who challenged these stereotypes, embraced their uniqueness and shattered expectations, proving that diversity is not just beneficial but essential for the open source community.

The tech industry as a whole thrives on diversity, with professionals coming from a myriad of backgrounds. We celebrate the richness that diverse perspectives bring to problem-solving, innovation, and creativity. Don’t doubt yourself. You can do it too, regardless of your background. Diversity is our strength, not a weakness.

Conclusion:

Writing this blog post was a learning curve for me too. Reflecting on the struggles of breaking into tech, the overwhelming available knowledge, opportunities and the beauty of diverse backgrounds, it becomes evident that everybody struggles in their journey. No one has it all figured out. But together, we can inspire one another by sharing our stories of resilience, perseverance, and diversity, empowering aspiring open source enthusiasts to embrace the challenges, knowing they are not alone on this transformative path. And that’s what makes the journey uniquely rewarding.

What’s your story? Share in the comments!

Quotes:

“In the realm of technology, everybody struggles at some point. The key is to turn those struggles into stepping stones for success.”
“The journey into tech is a challenging climb for everyone. Remember, even the most successful in the field faced their share of struggles.”
“There’s no expert who wasn’t once a beginner.”