As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st and we welcome the new year, I can confidently say that 2022 has been incredibly transformative for me as a developer. I have taken on new challenges, acquired new skills, and pushed myself out of my comfort zone in ways that have propelled my growth as a professional. I am excited to share my journey with you. I am confident that the experiences and insights I have gained throughout the year will be valuable to other developers looking to level up their skills and advance their careers. So, without further ado, let's dive into my 2022 wrap-up and see what the year had in store for me.

Introduction

Hi 👋 I am Shivam. Before starting my 2022 journey, let me introduce myself to you.

• I am a newly graduated BCA student and a full-stack web developer.

• My love for open-source and passion for technical writing and DevOps have led me to contribute to some great open-source projects such as EddieHub and ReactPlay, while also being a part of some great open-source communities.

• I am a GitHub 2022 graduate student and was selected for SSOC 2022.

• I am working as a React JS developer and am ready to share my journey and all the experiences, opportunities, and learnings that 2022 has brought me as a developer.

FullStack Web Development

FullStack Web Development was a major focus for me in 2022. I dove headfirst into learning about DevOps and the latest technologies, starting with Kunal Kuhwasha's DevOps Playlist. I became proficient in Docker and Kubernetes, mastering concepts like containers, pods, clusters, and microservices.

I also made a point to keep up with the latest libraries and frameworks, such as React JS, Redux, React Query, and TypeScript. I always stayed up-to-date by following the official documentation and learning from industry leaders like Angela Yu, Tapas Adhikary, Eddie Jaoude, and Kunal Kuhwasha. I challenged myself by practicing DSA on Leetcode and implementing what I learned through open-source contributions. It was an exciting and challenging year, but I am proud of the knowledge and experience I gained in FullStack Web Development and DevOps.

Open Source

Open Source was a highlight of my 2022 journey as a developer. I had the privilege of contributing to various projects that helped me improve my skills and gave me a sense of accomplishment and a sense of community. In February, I was fortunate enough to connect with Tapas Adhikary and join his open-source project, ReactPlay. This experience exposed me to the ins and outs of FullStack web development, community building, and real-world problem-solving.

Beyond ReactPlay, I also had the chance to work on other exciting projects such as EddieHub's LinkFree, Susmita Dey's Sukoon, and Kanika's Amazon-clone. I made my first contribution to Hactoberfest and was selected for the Social Summer Of Code, which was a huge personal accomplishment. Joining the open-source community has been a fulfilling and enriching experience, and I look forward to continuing to contribute in the future.

Learning In Public

Learning In Public not only helped me improve my skills but also allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals and industry experts. I shared my journey and progress on ShowwCase, where I received positive feedback and valuable insights from others in the community. As I continued to post about my open-source contributions, I saw the engagement on my threads increase. In April, I took the next step in my technical writing journey by joining Hashnode and began writing blogs for various communities like Fueler, CommunityClassroom, Kubeworld, and ReactPlay.

To expand my network and connect with more professionals, I also joined LinkedIn, which proved to be a valuable tool in connecting me with a diverse group of individuals in the industry.

Rejections

After immersing myself in the world of FullStack Web Development, Open Source, and Learning In Public, I decided to take the next step and apply for jobs and internships. My ultimate goal was to land a position where I could continue to grow and learn with the latest tech stacks. I sent out several applications but didn't receive any responses. Some companies did reach out, but I ultimately wasn't selected for the role. Determined to improve my chances, I made changes to my resume by highlighting my involvement in open-source projects and communities. I also improve my social media presence by writing more technical blogs.

These changes helped, but for a few months, I still received rejections. Some of these rejections came from companies I had my eye on, and it was a tough pill to swallow. But I didn't let that discourage me. I continued to study and improve my skills and eventually landed an interview but, didn't get selected due to a lack of confidence in myself. Although it was disappointing, I knew what I needed to do to improve my confidence and interview skills. Despite the rejections, I refused to let them dampen my spirit and continued to push forward.

Selections / Opportunities

As I continued to push through the rejections and challenges, I was able to turn my focus toward the world of open-source. This not only helped me to improve my skills, but it also provided me with a unique and diverse set of projects to showcase on my resume.

Through this hard work and determination, I got my first job as a Full Stack Web Developer. This was a significant achievement for me, and it reflected the development I had made throughout the year.

But my journey didn't stop there. I continued to strive for success, and in August 2022, I was selected for the Social Summer of Code, where I had the opportunity to contribute to some amazing projects and learn from some of the brightest minds in the industry.

I was also honored to be recognized for my contributions, winning my first MLH init GWH hackathon and being selected as a GitHub Graduate Student in 2022.

Throughout the year, I also had the pleasure of meeting and connecting with some truly great people in the ReactPlay and 4C communities. I also received some fantastic swag from all over the world.

All in all, 2022 was a year of growth, learning, and new opportunities for me. I am excited to see what the future holds and to continue to push myself to be the best developer I can be.

Learnings

This year I explored many new things; everything gave me a unique experience and learning. Here are some points that I have learned from my 2022 journey:

1. Don't wait for perfection, start and learn along the way

2. Embrace the power of "Learn In Public" to grow and share your knowledge

3. Document your learning journey to reflect on and track your progress

4. Get involved in open-source projects and communities to gain new skills and real-world experience

5. Don't be afraid to reach out to others and network with like-minded individuals

6. Prioritize building your skills, then focus on networking

7. Always be willing to help others and pay it forward in the developer community

8. Don't overthink or procrastinate on new opportunities or projects, just take the first step and go for it.

I hope you enjoyed reading my 2022 wrap-up blog and found it informative and interesting. I encourage you to share it with others who might find it useful and don't forget to like it! Thank you for reading.

Socials

Join me on my socials to connect, share and learn more about my journey as a developer. Don't hesitate to reach out. Let's grow together!

• Twitter

• ShowwCase

• LinkedIn

• GitHub