After months of anticipation, applications, and processing, I finally made it to becoming an Outreachy intern, starting on the 9th of December, 2024.

Hello everyone, my name is Seyi Kuforiji, an Outreachy intern working with the Git community (a full package that comes with GitHub and GitLab 🔥🔥🔥). 

My Background

My journey into software development began with my curiosity to learn new things. Python introduced me to programming concepts in a beginner-friendly way—one of its biggest strengths! 😊. Well, of course, I wanted to know more and build exciting things. I explored other amazing tools like Flask and Django and version control with Git. A few years later, I pursued and obtained a software engineering certification, building a solid foundation in programming with C as my base language before progressing to other amazing tools and frameworks.

Over the years, I’ve worked with various tools and on a variety of projects, from simple shell projects to building backends for web applications. I have more recently worked on data projects from engineering to analytics, collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds. Safe to say, I’m quite versatile in the tech space. However, I am more inclined towards software and data engineering, as this requires more of what I love doing, which is solving simple and complex problems.

Core Values

My core values are curiosity, humility, and selflessness.

Curiosity

Curiosity is the driving force behind my passion for learning, innovation, and growth. It keeps me constantly engaged in discovering new things, whether it’s mastering a new programming language or understanding complex systems. My curiosity drives me to delve deeper into subjects, enhancing my knowledge and skills over time. It encourages me to explore different perspectives, thereby coming up with simple and creative ways to solve a problem. This mindset is particularly invaluable in my journey so far.

Moreover, curiosity propels me to step out of my comfort zone and take on new challenges, facilitating both personal and professional growth. In a rapidly changing world, it enables me to stay adaptable and open-minded, making it easier to navigate new and uncertain situations.

Humility

I believe in the power of humility. By recognizing my own limitations and valuing the contributions of others, I create an environment of continuous learning and growth. I approach every challenge with an open mind, understanding that there is always more to learn and that collaboration leads to greater success. Respecting diverse perspectives and being open to feedback allows me to adapt and improve, fostering a culture of mutual respect and collective achievement.

More importantly, I embrace humility before God, acknowledging that I am part of a greater purpose and plan. This humility guides my actions and decisions, reminding me to act with compassion, integrity, and gratitude.

Selflessness

Positively impacting my community and the lives of those around me is a constant drive for me. By putting the needs and well-being of others before my own, I contribute to a culture of generosity and support. I strive to act with compassion and kindness, always looking for ways to help and uplift those around me.

Being selfless has helped me foster stronger relationships and a sense of community, as it encourages mutual respect and collaboration. Through selfless actions, I aim to make a positive impact and create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. I am committed to serving others and contributing to the greater good.

Applying to Outreachy

I am deeply motivated to do things that positively impact the lives of others and the tech community. Outreachy and Git give me a very rare opportunity to achieve such a great feat. Being part of this program allows me to engage with diverse communities and gain valuable experience. The chance to work on meaningful tasks that make a real difference excites me, and I’m eager to contribute to the broader goal of advancing open-source development while honing my technical abilities.

Next Steps

This is the first of many blog posts I will be posting throughout my internship journey, so stay tuned!