Google Summer of Code – Experience of Praveen Kumar from IIT Roorkee
Wildcard Entry for Week: – 5th Aug 2011 – 11th Aug 2011
Name of the intern: – Praveen Kumar
Institute: – IIT Roorkee
Organization interned with: – Google Summer of Code
This was an internship for which I had been preparing for a year and I finally got it. Google Summer of Code(GSoC) is a program in which Google pays you to write Open Source code for 12 weeks. Frankly speaking when I got admission in IITR I had not realized or I was not clear of what my areas of interest were. I liked Mathematics, Programming as well as Finance. I also dreamt of becoming a scientist. But having an interest and being passionate about your area of interest are two very different things. I had an interest in Finance but I was more passionate about Programming and I realized this last year when I was in Sikkim for a summer project in Dynamical Systems. I was given a room where I had to sit the whole day and read research papers. Soon, I could figure out the fact that being a scientist is not my cup of tea and that my interest in becoming a scientist was merely because of the hype created around me.
Then one day I came to know that one of my seniors got a project in Google Summer of Code and he too recommended that I apply for it this year. The best part of GSoC is that you don’t have to go anywhere, you sit at home and enjoy all the comforts , write code and get paid $5000. You also get involved with Open Source community and developers from all over the world, make contacts, get hands on experience with Programming, and write code for the welfare of all.
I had been preparing for GSoC for an year and acquiring skills that were needed to apply for a project. GSoC doesn’t lay a restriction on the branch you are pursuing. Students from all over the world and with varied area of interests take part in the program every year. The most memorable part of the journey right from when I was applying for GSoC to the end of the program was the application period. The application window opens for 8 days and we have to submit our project proposals within this period. Contrary to the situation, I had exams for the first 5 days and I was worried that if I dint prepare a good proposal, I wouldn’t be selected. But I had the determination and wanted to get selected no matter what it cost me. I didn’t sleep for three days and devoted all my time studying for the project and making a good proposal. Finally, I submitted my proposal and I got good response from the mentors too. But there were already good proposals from other aspiring candidates and I thought I won’t be selected and I was happy that at least I tried my best.
A week later the accepted students were announced in midnight IST and there was no internet connectivity in my hostel and I could not check if I was selected. I was restless and could not dream about the case if I didn’t get selected. Luckily, one of my friends called me and told me that I had been selected. My happiness knew no bounds and I could not believe that I really have achieved what I wanted and that a year of my hard work had borne fruit.
Since then, there was no turning back. I learnt a lot from this internship, met very cool developers from all over the world, and got a direction what to do in life. I now have enough money to pay my tuition fees for the rest of my 2 years at IIT Roorkee. It feels great to know that I don’t have to ask my dad for money to pay my fees and other expenses. I am almost financially independent and have developed somewhat different outlook towards life after this internship.
For those who want to know more about GSoC or are interested in taking part next year, please visit http://www.google-melange.com
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