New Blog Post: Reflecting on My Outreachy Journey: Growth, Challenges, and New Beginnings

content/en/blog/2025/outreachy-internship.md

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+---
+title: Reflecting on my Outreachy Journey
+linkTitle: Outreachy Internship
+date: 2025-03-24
+author: '[Richard Chukwu](https://github.com/richardchukwu)'
+issue: 6488
+sig: Contributor Experience
+cSpell:ignore: Chukwu Marylia Outreachy
+---
+
+Hello world! I’m Richard Chukwu, a Computer Engineering graduate from the
+University of Benin, Nigeria. My journey into tech has been fueled by a blend of
+curiosity and an unwavering commitment to growth. These are the pillars that not
+only uphold my personal values but also form the foundation of my professional
+aspirations.
+
+I still remember the nervous excitement I felt when I received the
+[email](https://x.com/RichardChukwu_/status/1862390957217333461) confirming my
+selection for [Outreachy](https://www.outreachy.org/alums/2024-12/). It was a
+moment of validation, but also one filled with uncertainty. Could I truly make
+an impact in open source? Would I be able to contribute meaningfully to a
+project as vast and complex as OpenTelemetry? Now, as I wrap up this incredible
+journey, I can say with confidence that the experience has been transformative
+in ways I never imagined.
+
+## Overcoming fear: Imposter syndrome didn’t win
+
+One of my biggest fears stepping into Outreachy was imposter syndrome.
+OpenTelemetry is a widely used project, and I worried about keeping up with
+seasoned contributors. However, I quickly realized that the open source
+community thrives on collaboration, mentorship, and shared learning. My mentor
+and the community members were incredibly supportive, always willing to guide me
+when I felt stuck. I learned that asking questions and seeking help is not a
+weakness—it’s how we grow.
+
+## A highlight: Seeing my work make an impact
+
+One of the most fulfilling moments of my internship was when my
+[first major contribution](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-erlang/pull/825)—a
+detailed setup guide for OpenTelemetry Erlang contributors—was merged.
+What seemed like a simple task at first turned into a deep dive into improving
+developer onboarding, documenting tribal knowledge, and making contributions
+more accessible. Seeing community members reference my work and use it to get
+started was an incredibly rewarding feeling. It reminded me why I love open
+source—it's about creating something that empowers others.
+
+This internship stretched my technical and communication skills in ways I hadn’t
+expected. On the technical side, I gained a deeper understanding of:
+
+- OpenTelemetry’s instrumentation and architecture.
+- Observability and its role in modern distributed systems.
+- Documentation best practices and how to bridge the gap between technical
+  complexity and accessibility.
+
+On the communication side, I learned how to:
+
+- Engage in meaningful discussions in GitHub issues and PRs.
+- Synthesize feedback from multiple contributors and maintainers.
+- Document processes in a way that is both clear and effective for a global
+  audience.
+
+Most importantly, Outreachy gave me the confidence to contribute to open source
+projects beyond this internship. I now see myself as part of the broader open
+source ecosystem, and I’m excited to continue making meaningful contributions.
+
+## Project contributions and future directions
+
+During my tenure, I completed the creation of the
+[setup guide for contributions on OpenTelemetry](https://github.com/open-telemetry/sig-contributor-experience/issues/31)
+and contributed to refining existing documentation. Moving forward, I aim to
+continue my involvement with the OpenTelemetry community, focusing on expanding
+resources that facilitate contributor engagement.
+
+## The role of my mentor
+
+My mentor, [Marylia Gutierrez](https://github.com/maryliag), played a crucial
+role in my journey. She not only provided guidance on technical issues but also
+encouraged me to think critically and independently. She fostered a welcoming
+environment where I felt comfortable experimenting, failing, and learning from
+my mistakes. Her patience and willingness to share knowledge made a lasting
+impact on me.
+
+## What’s next?
+
+As I complete my Outreachy internship with the OpenTelemetry project, I’m
+looking ahead to my next steps. I want to continue working in cloud native
+technologies and observability, contributing to open source projects that
+improve developer experience and system reliability. I’m actively seeking
+opportunities where I can apply my skills, whether it’s in open source advocacy,
+cloud engineering, or observability solutions.
+
+To anyone considering [Outreachy](https://www.outreachy.org/), I say: go for it!
+This internship has been a gateway to new opportunities, networks, and a deeper
+belief in my abilities. I’m grateful for the experience and excited for what the
+future holds.
+
+If you’d like to chat about open source contributions, cloud native technology,
+or potential opportunities,
+[let’s connect](https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardchukwu1/)!

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