Let me introduce myself

I'm a versatile software engineer specializing in full-stack development, passionate about creating maintainable software. Over the past few years, I've actively engaged in front-end development, gaining hands-on experience. My current milestone is to be fully equipped with the complete development stack.

Thanks to Outreachy, I will now be interning at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). HOT is an international organization dedicated to humanitarian action and community development through open mapping. From the beginning, HOT caught my attention; I deeply admire their mission and am thrilled to contribute to their impactful work.

As someone from Kazakhstan, I have witnessed how environmental disasters can strike unexpectedly. This year, for instance, drastic temperature increases led to massive flooding in many areas, displacing over 100,000 people. This experience has made me acutely aware of the importance of timely and accurate information during disasters. HOT’s work in gathering volunteers to create open map data is crucial in enabling disaster responders to reach those in need.

I am excited to collaborate with a diverse community and grow as a software engineer. My aspiration to make a positive impact through technology is stronger than ever. Here I am, listed as one of the interns! 🥳

Why Outreachy?

I applied to Outreachy because they provide exceptional opportunities for professional growth and help newcomers contribute to FOSS. For a long time, I have wanted to work with an international team and contribute to open-source projects. This aspiration led me to make my first open-source contributions, which I found insightful, educational, and welcoming.

This isn't my first rodeo with Outreachy; I applied back in 2019 but didn't pass the contribution phase. At that time, I wasn't fully aware of the intense competition and FIFO method. However, this time, the timing worked out perfectly. Outreachy came back when I needed them the most (unlike Avatar Aang, haha 😅). I genuinely felt like I found the golden ticket when I received the email of acceptance to the internship! Sometimes I reread this email and go euphoric, feeling like I’m giving myself a pat on the back.(ADHD aha! :D)

My personal traits

1. Continuous Improvement

This year, I underwent a transformative shift in mindset, drawing inspiration from James Clear's "Atomic Habits." Embracing the idea of continuous improvement, even by just 1 percent, has become my guiding principle. This change propelled me from a state of insecurity to one of proactive belief in incremental progress.

Encountering Khalil Stemmler's quote in "SOLID: The Software Design and Architecture Handbook" further solidified this mindset. Stemmler's observation about the confusion among newcomers in the tech industry resonated deeply with me and sparked a commitment to software craftsmanship—a philosophy centered on pragmatic work and ongoing enhancement of skills.

To put these principles into practice, I prioritize resolving doubts through technical literature while approaching challenges with a focus on quality and incremental growth. This approach has yielded tangible results, fostering both personal and professional development.

2. Resilience

Resilience is another core value I hold dear. In school, I used to sew a lot, and this activity taught me the importance of resilience and patience. Sewing requires significant time and effort, and sometimes the results don't meet expectations if not well-planned. These lessons have been invaluable in my professional life, helping me stay persistent and patient through challenging projects and tasks. Plus, if coding ever becomes obsolete, I can always fall back on designing clothes! (Hope not 😅).

3. Curiosity

Curiosity drives my passion for learning and innovation. I enjoy keeping up with trends in design and the latest developments in software. This curiosity motivates me to explore new technologies and methodologies, ensuring that I stay at the forefront of the industry and continuously enhance my skills. As Albert Einstein famously said, "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."

To wrap it up

In conclusion, my journey with Outreachy and HOTOSM is a significant step towards fulfilling my aspiration to leverage technology for positive impact. I am eager to learn, contribute, and grow through this internship, and I am confident that this experience will be transformative both personally and professionally. I look forward to sharing more of my journey and insights in this blog series. Thank you for following along, and I can’t wait to share more updates with you! Stay tuned!