Introduction
Participating in a hackathon had always been an exciting thought for me, but as a fresher, I had no idea how to perform. So, when the opportunity to participate in our college's hackathon competition came up, I was equally excited and nervous. Hackathons are often described as intense, collaborative problem-solving events, and I was curious to experience it authentically.
Initially, I had no idea on what and how the project for Hackathon be built. After a couple of weeks and focusing on our learned skills we ended up deciding building a website for Anweshan with combining functionality with aesthetic appeal. Anweshan is not just a fest; it’s a platform where students showcase their talents, network with peers, and experience cutting-edge technology and creativity.
I didn’t expect that this hackathon would turn out to be a defining moment of my college journey.
The Idea and Team Formation
It all began with a simple idea. We noticed that Anweshan, being one of the most anticipated events on campus, could have a digital platform which should be both engaging and informative. Our idea was to create a dynamic website that could act as the central hub for event details, registration, schedules, reviews and more.
Forming a team was the next step. Could I work well with a team? This was the first thought came to my mind when I had to search for a team. Hackathons are not a solo sport. Working in a team taught me the importance of communication and collaboration. And I could not ask for a better team than I got. We were a group of three freshers from different and same departments, united by our shared passion for learning and building. Each of us brought something unique to the table— designing, coding, planning, presenting and creative problem-solving. Though we were new to hackathons, our enthusiasm took up for our lack of experience.
Building the Website
The website was more than just a collection of pages; we wanted it to be hands-on. After ideation and mind mapping, we decided on key features:
Home Page: Highlighting the theme of Anweshan, with eye-catching posters of events and layout designs.
Event Section: Providing details about tech workshops, cultural events, and competitions.
Registration Portal: Enabling participants to sign up seamlessly on clicking on the respective posters.
Schedule : Keeping attendees updated with real-time information.
Gallery Section: Included images and videos for previously organized events.
Review Section: Provides feedbacks from experienced participants in previous events to guide in a better way
Contact Section: Includes links for all social media sites of the event and contact details of the organizing committee and mapping for the address of event.
Here’s our built website
Our tech stack included HTML and CSS for the front end. Although simple by professional standards, it was ambitious for us as beginners.
For code used in website visit my GitHub profile:
The process was smooth beside anything. Debugging errors, aligning elements, and ensuring the website was responsive took longer than we expected. But instead of panicking, we divided the work, brainstormed solutions, and resolved it just in time.
The Hackathon Experience
Our hackathon venue was buzzing with energy. Teams were discussing away, mentors were walking around offering advice and suggestions to be implemented, and the sound of keyboards filled the air. There was something so inspiring about seeing everyone so focused and driven.
One of the most memorable moments was when a mentor stopped by our table and complimented our website's user-friendly interface. They suggested we add a "Details about date and information about events in the events section apart from the banners", which turned out to be a game-changer.
Another highlight was the teamwork. We worked tirelessly through the night, cheering each other on through every small milestone. It was exhausting but exhilarating.
The competition was of 2 levels. We qualified the first and were selected for the final presentation round.
The Presentation and Results
Presenting our project to the judges was both feeling nervous and exciting. We had five minutes to explain our vision and demonstrate the website’s features. We focused on showing how our website made Anweshan more accessible and engaging for participants.
The judges appreciated our approach, especially considering it was our first hackathon. When the results were announced, and our team won the "Best Freshers Team" award jointly, I was overwhelmed with excitement and joy. All the exhaustion and hard work had paid off!
Takeaways and Reflections
This hackathon taught me more than just technical skills. I learned how to work effectively in a team, handle pressure, and think creatively under time constraints. It boosted my confidence and showed me the importance of collaboration.
I realized that we don’t need to be an expert to participate in a hackathon. It’s about learning, experimenting, and pushing your limits. This experience has inspired me to take on more challenges and explore the endless possibilities in the tech world.
Conclusion
To all the freshers out there: don’t wait for the perfect coding language to participate in a hackathon. Jump in, even if you feel underprepared. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you step out of your comfort zone even if the result is not as per your expectations.
I’m grateful to my team for their dedication, to the mentors and seniors for their guidance, and to the organizers for creating such an incredible platform. This was just the beginning of my journey, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!
Thank You.
Visit me at:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sheetal-bajaj-s06091009
GitHub: Sheetal-cell (Sheetal Bajaj)