When I first heard about hackathons, I honestly thought they were only for “pro coders” who already knew everything. At that time, I was just starting out with JavaScript—barely scratching the surface—and the idea of building a full project in such a short time felt way out of my league.
Still, something in me said, “Why not just try?” So, with a mix of excitement and nervousness, I signed up for my very first hackathon.
The Nerves and the People
Walking into the event, I felt completely out of place. Everyone around me seemed so skilled—they were talking about frameworks, APIs, and design tools I had never even heard of. But soon, I realized that hackathons are not about doing everything yourself. They’re about working with a team.
I got the chance to meet people with different skills—some were amazing at design, some could build backends in no time, and others knew how to pitch ideas perfectly. That’s when it clicked: I didn’t need to know everything. I just needed to learn, contribute what I could, and soak in the experience.
Learning by Jumping In
Even with my limited JavaScript knowledge, I tried to help in small ways. Sometimes it was writing a few lines of code, sometimes just brainstorming ideas, and sometimes just watching and learning. And trust me, even just observing how others worked was like a crash course you can’t get in any classroom.
I discovered how projects are built step by step, how teammates divide tasks, and how everyone’s strengths come together. More importantly, I saw how people handled roadblocks—not by giving up, but by quickly adjusting and trying something new.
What I Took Away
By the end, our project wasn’t perfect, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that I had stepped out of my comfort zone and experienced a completely new side of coding.
I walked away with more than just memories—I gained confidence, new friends, and a clearer idea of the different paths I could explore in tech. Whether it’s diving deeper into web development, learning design basics, or even improving communication, the hackathon gave me direction.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I realize hackathons aren’t just about winning or being the smartest in the room. They’re about growing, exploring, and discovering what’s possible when you push yourself a little further.
For me, this first hackathon was the starting point of my real coding journey—beyond just JavaScript—and I’m excited to see where it takes me next.
Top comments (2)
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I really admire your courage to take on this challenge.
Hope it provided some value 😊