Introduction

I’m Mohd Kamaal, and I want to tell you my journey till now not because I did something extraordinary, but because I learned something that every open source newcomer should know: open source is not about stipends or selection, it’s about people, growth, and community. If you're a student trying to find your way, this is for you.

How It All Began

I didn’t have the best start. My first year in college was confusing I didn’t know what to do or where to go. I didn’t have a mentor. I wasted time. But in my second year, someone gave me a simple piece of advice that changed my path: explore open source.

That single moment became my turning point. I slowly started learning about the cloud-native world and the people in it. I didn’t have a mentor to walk with me, so I wandered alone. That was my first mistake not finding guidance early. But even in that struggle, I was learning.

The First Real Steps

In my third year, I finally heard about programs like GSoC and LFX. I tried contributing to projects like Meshery. I wasn't selected, and honestly, I wasn’t ready my knowledge gap was huge. But the community, especially Lee Calcote and Uzair Shaikh, welcomed me warmly and helped me onboard. That kindness stayed with me.

Even though I failed to get into LFX multiple times, I gained something far more important. I began to understand what open source truly is.

Open Source Is More Than Projects

At first, I thought open source meant finding a project and contributing to it. Now I know that’s only part of it. Open source is a mindset. It’s about being inclusive, helpful, unbiased, and ready to mentor even if you don’t know someone personally.

Students are the future of open source, but many see it as a shortcut to a stipend. That’s where we go wrong. It’s not about being selected, it’s about showing up, helping others, and growing together.

Even if you’re never selected for a formal program, but you continue contributing, networking, and collaborating you’re already building your career. Stipends are not the reward. Impact is.

My First Real Contribution: Kyverno

My first serious contribution was to Kyverno, a CNCF project. What amazed me wasn’t just the code it was the maintainers. They supported newcomers like me, answered questions, and made us feel welcome.

That was the moment I truly let go of chasing programs. I found something bigger: purpose. The cloud-native community became my focus, and I saw how much I still had to learn and how much I could give back.

Giving Space, Giving Back

Eventually, I did get selected for the LFX program. I’m incredibly grateful. But now, I believe I shouldn’t keep applying for more programs as a mentee. I want to give space to first-timers, help them find what I found, and guide them the way I wish someone had guided me.

However, it’s not wrong to reapply to open source programs if you genuinely believe you can contribute more to the project and can help the community. If you think your skills and experience align with what the project needs, go ahead and apply. But if you’ve already had the opportunity, consider stepping aside so others can come in, learn about the project, and experience the collaboration and mentorship that shaped your journey.

For those who already have the understanding, please step up and be a mentor in the community, even without formal programs. The true value of open source lies in the mentorship and collaboration that happens outside of any structured program.

Fixing the Gaps: A request to Maintainers

I know maintainer got alot to do but one thing I noticed that makes it hard for newcomers: most project development guides only show how to run or test the project, not how the codebase is structured, or what directories do what. Many newcomers get lost.

Imagine if we documented which sub-packages handle which components, or what major directories do. That one step could reduce the barrier to entry and help more contributors make real, impactful changes.

Conclusion: Let’s Do This the Right Way

I believe we can bring open source back to what it’s meant to be really open. Let’s support newcomers, give space in programs, and stop fighting over selections. Let’s make it so welcoming that no one cares about stipends. They care about contributing.

We are the future. Let’s build it the right way.