First Hackathon Experience

Introduction

So, finally I am writing my first blog and it is about my first hackathon experience. Joining college and adjusting with the new atmosphere and then the annual tech fest comes. Though i am a newbie to tech but i was passionate to participate in the upcoming program. Let's rewind to the moment when I decided to take the plunge. The tech fest was buzzing with excitement.I was a bit nervous, but my passion for technology and the thrill of being part of Hackathon kept me going.

The Begining : Finding Teammates

As a first year student, finding teammates was difficult. Our college has just started two months ago and to find a intrested team member in the short time was quite challenging. Since we were all still adjusting to college life, most students were either unaware of hackathons or hesitant to participate. However, I was determined to take part, so I started looking for teammates through college group chats, networking in class, and asking friends if they knew anyone interested in coding and development.

Eventually, I found a small group of equally passionate individuals who were as excited about the hackathon as I was.After a few discussions and rejections, I finally managed to form a team with Debopam Sarkar and Priyanka Mistrey.

The Challenge : Ideation

Then came the main challenge: coming up with an idea to present and turning it into a working prototype. We knew that our idea had to be innovative yet feasible within the limited time frame of the hackathon. Finally, we decided to made a Library Management System.

The Process : Late Nights & Hardwork

After finalizing our theme, we plunged headfirst into the intense and exhilarating process of bringing our idea to life.Each team member took on specific roles based on their strengths and interests. We had to quickly get familiar with new tools and technologies.There were moments of frustration when things didn’t go as planned, but those challenges only strengthened our resolve.

As the submission deadline approached, the pressure was at its peak. We were testing, fixing errors, and ensuring everything worked seamlessly.We learned to communicate effectively, support one another, and leverage our diverse skill sets to overcome obstacles.

Amidst the hard work, there were also moments of fun and camaraderie. We shared laughs, celebrated small victories, and kept each other motivated. Those late-night sessions, filled with both challenges and triumphs, became some of the most memorable parts of our hackathon experience.

class Library {
    private List<Book> books;

    public Library() {
        books = new ArrayList<>();
    }

    public void addBook(Book book) {
        books.add(book);
    }

The Struggles : Learning by Failing

We created a demo, but we couldn't shake off the feeling that it lacked innovation and didn't stand out from the crowd. We weren’t satisfied because it didn't feel like it had the fresh perspective we wanted to bring to the table.

At this point, exhaustion and frustration started creeping in. We had spent countless hours coding, and now we felt like our project wasn’t innovative enough.

Even I questioned, "Did we make the right choice?”

This struggle taught us a valuable lesson—failure isn’t the end, it’s an opportunity to improve. Every mistake we made helped us think better, code smarter, and innovate faster.

Outcome : More than a project

Yeah! We did it—we won the Fresher Team Prize! 🎉

Though we weren’t the overall winners, this recognition meant everything to us. As first-year students, stepping into a hackathon with zero prior experience, building a working prototype, and getting acknowledged for our efforts was a huge achievement.

But more than just a prize, the hackathon was a transformative experience. It was about pushing our boundaries, learning through challenges, and experiencing the power of teamwork.

The friendships we built, the skills we gained, and the lessons we learned were invaluable. This hackathon was not just a project; it was a milestone that marked the beginning of our journey in the tech world.

Our first hackathon experience ignited a fire within us. We now know that hackathons are not just about winning—they are about challenging yourself, collaborating with others, and creating solutions that make an impact.

And next time? We aim to come back stronger, smarter, and even more innovative! 🔥

Takeaways : Beyond coding

Winning the Fresher Team Prize was amazing, but what truly mattered were the lessons we took away from this experience. Hackathons aren’t just about coding—they're about collaboration, creativity, and pushing limits.

One of the biggest wins was meeting like-minded people—mentors, experienced developers, and fellow participants.

• We got the opportunity to network with seniors and industry experts who shared valuable insights.
• We learned about new technologies, best practices, and real-world problem-solving.
• We made friends with other teams, exchanging ideas and discussing future collaborations.

Hackathons teach more than just technical skills—they shape how you think and work under pressure.

1. Time Management: Balancing coding, debugging, and presentations within a tight deadline.
2. Resilience: Overcoming failures, debugging issues, and improving our approach on the go.
3. Teamwork: Understanding how to work efficiently as a group and trust each other’s skills.

Conclusion :

Participating in my first hackathon was a transformative experience. From struggling to find a team to ideating, building, failing, learning, and finally winning the Fresher Team Prize, every moment was a lesson in perseverance and innovation. Hackathons aren’t just competitions—they are learning experiences that shape me as a developer and innovator.

But most importantly, this is just the beginning. With this newfound confidence, I’m eager to explore more hackathons, more challenges, and more opportunities to innovate.

To anyone hesitant about joining a hackathon—just go for it! You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve.

#hackathon #anweshan #hackathon #makaut | Prolayjit Biswas | 12 comments

Achievement Unlocked 🎉 Hey LinkedIn Connections, I am thrilled to share that our team 'Helium' successfully got the "Best Freshers Team Award" (Jointly) in… | 12 comments on LinkedIn

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