If there’s one thing I’ve learned since stepping into the world of open source and Outreachy, it’s this: everyone struggles. No matter how experienced someone looks, how confident they seem, or how smoothly things appear on the outside, there are always challenges behind the scenes.
I used to think struggling meant I wasn’t good enough. When I’d get stuck on a bug for hours or reread the same documentation five times without understanding it, I’d question myself. I’d think, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this” but as I started contributing more, talking to mentors, and reading other interns’ experiences, I realized that struggling isn’t a sign of weakness rather it’s part of the process.
The Struggles No One Sees
During the Outreachy application period, I must’ve read and reread the project descriptions a dozen times, afraid I was missing something obvious. When I started the contribution phase, I remember feeling totally lost in the codebase. I opened files, scrolled through functions, and kept wondering, “How does everyone else understand this so easily?”
Spoiler: they don’t.
Even now, during the internship, I still hit moments where I freeze up. Something doesn’t work, and I panic and my imposter syndrome kicks in. I start doubting myself again. But slowly, I’ve learned to pause, breathe, and ask for help. That last part used to feel scary because I worried I’d look inexperienced. But the truth is, asking good questions is a strength and when someone explains something, I’m always surprised to hear that they struggled with it too at some point.
Learning in Public
One of the hardest (but most freeing) lessons has been learning to learn in public.
In school or on social media, we often only see polished results but behind those wins are messy drafts, failing tests, and a lot of trial and error. Outreachy encourages us to share our process, not just our outcomes. That’s helped me realize that it’s okay to not have all the answers. It’s okay to write imperfect code the first time. It’s okay to say, “I don’t understand this yet.”
The key word is yet.
If You’re Struggling Too…
Whether you’re an intern, a student, or someone trying to break into tech and you’re also struggling right now, I want you to know: you’re not alone.
You’re not the only one rereading the docs.
You’re not the only one who pushed a fix and immediately realized it broke something else.
You’re not the only one fighting imposter syndrome.
And you’re definitely not the only one who sometimes feels behind.
But you’re also growing. Every stuck moment, every “aha!” after hours of confusion, every line of code you rewrite, it all counts. Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing rather it means you’re learning.
Wrapping Up
This internship has already taught me a lot, not just technically, but emotionally. I’ve learned that growth isn’t linear, that asking for help is part of the journey, and that struggling is normal.
So if you’re struggling, keep going. Take breaks. Ask questions. Celebrate the small wins. And remember, even the people you admire the most have been exactly where you are.
Until next time,
Adiba 😀
