On 3/17/07, Vid Ayer <<a href="mailto:svaksha@gmail.com">svaksha@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Hi Meg, On 3/16/07, Meg Kurdziolek <<a href="mailto:meg.kurdziolek@gmail.com">meg.kurdziolek@gmail.com</a>> wrote: > I think there is a lot of hidden talent in our group, but we just haven't > found the appropriate outlet for it. Talking about myself specifically, I'm > a CS major with programming background in C, C++, and Java. Have a need for > anyone like that? I've never participated in a FOSS project before, so I'd > need a lot of mentoring and tutoring at first about how things are done. > > I think for a lot of people (not just women) its hard to find a place to > start. Right.... at first its more about tackling the fear of goofing up and being ridiculed/pulled up for it publicly, That fear keeps most people away which is where mentoring in UW steps in. If you see anything that needs to be worked on, just ask here or feel free to contact people (offlist if you wish) specifying the task/area you are interested in working on. They will point out resources that can get things moving.</blockquote><div> My advice to be part of a FOSS project, is just "do it". In my early days, I have the most difficult times on keeping up with everything that I'm so interested in. I don't have my own computer, and I go to my friends house just to use an internet and visit <a href="http://gnome.org">gnome.org</a> everytime I got connected. When I first saw MacOSX, I was so in loved with it. since I can't afford it, I told myself that when I learn some basic programming, I'll try my best to make Linux as easy as MacOSX. I print the GTK+ API documentation and learned so much from it. During my college years, I was so eager to make software for Linux, since it is my dream, I accept every software project opportunity from other students, and suddenly got very overwhelmed with too much project and requires a lot of responsibility and realized, "OMG! there's no turning back, I'm on real big trouble!". Without a computer and an internet connection, I was still so optimistic that I can meet the demands, and so I learned in order to meet the demands, I'll just have to jump right in and "just do it". Since I'm in a computer school, I agree to make their software projects in favor of lending me their computers so I can install Linux on it and create their software. This is just my experience I want to share. And about being ridiculed and goofing up, as long as you believe in your dreams and following it, what the hell other people think.. Joel </div> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> We *dont* expect perfection or expertise in anything.... we are just happy that you took the time to help us out! If anyone is apprehensive about using their real identities online (what if a recruiter googles and finds out that newbie query posted 5 years ago?) they can use a nick. The downside is getting credit for the work you have done. Hope that helps! -- thanks, Vid <a href="http://www.svaksha.com">http://www.svaksha.com</a> -- ubuntu-women mailing list <a href="mailto:ubuntu-women@lists.ubuntu.com">ubuntu-women@lists.ubuntu.com</a> <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-women">https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-women </a> </blockquote></div>