My Personal Journey

When I first heard about hackathons, I was both intrigued and terrified. The idea of participating in an event where you have to build something from scratch in just a day or two seemed incredibly daunting. I felt way too inexperienced, especially when I thought about university hackathons filled with seasoned coders. The thought of embarrassing myself held me back for a long time.

But then, I took the plunge. It was Grade 11 when I finally gave a hackathon a try — Elle Hacks. It was pretty big and quite scary. I remember walking into the venue with my palms sweaty and a million doubts running through my mind. The room was filled with enthusiastic participants, all seemingly more confident and knowledgeable than me. I felt like an imposter, convinced that I was way out of my depth.

I was lucky to have friends who came along and supported me. As the only four girls in our computer science class, we figured, why not take the jump? At least we would be together. We ended up creating a pretty generic app that facilitated easy snow shoveling through volunteer connections. Reflecting on it now, I don’t dwell on the Google Maps API that refused to work or the button that stubbornly wouldn’t shade on hover.

What stands out to me are the moments that made the experience special. I remember my friend teaching me HTML for the first time. I remember figuring out how to use speech-to-text. And I remember the ramen we ate at 3 AM. I simply remember having fun and, more than anything, wanting to do it again.

Taking that leap was transformative. It showed me that hackathons are not about showcasing perfection but about collaboration and growth. I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, learned new skills, and made amazing friends. That first hackathon ignited a passion in me, and I haven’t looked back since.

So what can you learn?

1. Learn Beyond the Classroom: Hackathons offer a unique learning experience that goes far beyond what you get in a classroom. You’ll have the chance to tackle real-world problems, often using industry tools and technologies that aren’t covered in traditional courses. I learned more about practical coding, project management, and teamwork in one weekend than I had in months of classroom instruction. At my first hackathon, I remember diving into turtle graphics and learning how to use Figma! It was an intense, exhilarating, and incredibly rewarding experience that sparked a passion in me.
2. Build Your Network: One of the most rewarding aspects of hackathons is the people you meet. You’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are passionate about technology and innovation. These events are fantastic networking opportunities where you can make connections that last a lifetime. Some of the mentors I met at my first hackathon became long-term advisors, and my teammates have become close friends who continue to inspire me.
3. Boost Your Confidence: Participating in a hackathon can be a major confidence booster. The first time you see your project come together, after hours of brainstorming, coding, and debugging, is incredibly satisfying. It’s a tangible achievement that showcases your skills and creativity. You often have to present your project to judges and participate in a Q&A session. While this is daunting at first, it gets easier each time you do it. This experience transfers to your everyday life too. When I do business presentations now, I am ten times more confident! I went from doubting my abilities to feeling confident in my potential to contribute meaningfully to tech projects
4. Discover New Technologies: Hackathons are a fantastic way to explore new technologies. Whether it’s a new programming language, a software framework, or a hardware device, you’ll often have the chance to experiment with tools you’ve never used before. You do NOT have to do it alone!! There are experts and hackathon organizers who lead workshops with the sole intent of helping you learn a new skill! I had my first hands-on experience with machine learning and API integration during a hackathon, which opened up new areas of interest for me.

Tips for First-Time Hackathon Participants

• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: Everyone starts somewhere, and the hackathon community is incredibly supportive. If you’re stuck, ask for help. Mentors and fellow participants are usually more than happy to assist.
• Focus on Learning: While winning is great, the primary goal should be to learn and have fun. Embrace the experience and soak in as much knowledge as you can.
• Bring the Essentials: Make sure you have everything you need, including your laptop, chargers, snacks, and any other essentials to keep you comfortable and productive.

Wrapping Up

Taking part in a hackathon can be an incredibly fulfilling experience. It’s a chance to learn, grow, and connect with a community of tech enthusiasts. If you’ve been hesitant, just remember that everyone starts as a beginner. My journey from feeling intimidated to becoming an eager hackathon participant was a turning point. The friendships I made, the skills I learned, and the experiences I had were invaluable. So, if you’re on the fence, take that leap of faith. You never know what amazing opportunities await you.

Written by Jasmine Xu
Friday, January 10th 10:55PM (I am bored)

You’ve probably heard this a million times, to be yourself. But how is that emulated in an application?

Think of writing like different robots in your head that write different things. Each robot has a specific filter or manner of typing. Emails, for example, are formal. What about texts to your friends? What about applications? Which robot represents you?

I think a mistake people make oftentimes is to write in accordance with the system. You’ll write through a filter or lens of how you idealize what the organization or institution wants, instead of what you genuinely believe or want to write about. As someone who has read lots and lots of applications, I can confidently say that it doesn’t help. So many people do it, that your application just blends in with theirs.

Read these, for example. (Don’t worry, I ChatGPTed some responses, they’re not written by a real person).

Question: What’s your biggest passion?

Bobbet’s answer: My biggest passion is connecting with people through meaningful conversations and helping them solve problems or discover new ideas. Whether it’s through writing, teaching, or just being a thoughtful listener, I find deep satisfaction in making complex topics more accessible and engaging. I thrive in environments where I can share knowledge, learn from others, and collaborate to create something impactful. Ultimately, my passion lies in continuous growth — both my own and that of others.

Bob’s answer: My biggest passion is coding and problem-solving through technology. I’m fascinated by the endless possibilities that programming offers to create solutions, whether it’s building applications, automating processes, or innovating new tools. The challenge of transforming an abstract idea into a functional, efficient program is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy working through complex problems, experimenting with new languages and frameworks, and constantly learning to improve my skills. Ultimately, my passion for coding stems from its power to shape the future, simplify tasks, and bring ideas to life in ways that make a real-world impact.

Bobara’s answer: My biggest passion is filmmaking. I’ve been doing photography for as long as I can remember, but I recently started turning this hobby of mine into tangible creation, in the form of short film Youtube videos. My first exposure to filmmaking was through student trustee applications, when I challenged myself to create a campaign reflecting student ideas, and amalgamated it into a short film video. As someone who has always found it difficult to convey emotions or particular topics, filmmaking has taught me all about expression and the art of creation, no matter big or small.

Pop quiz time, which response was written by a human? What do you think the other responses could have done a better job with?

My biggest advice is to write what you genuinely believe in. If a question asks you what you love, and you love roller skating, but you feel pressured to write about coding, DON’T! Write about roller skating. Write in a way that reflects who you are. Tell a story, don’t be afraid to include personal or certain experiences.

The more you can be you, the more the world will become closer to you. Good luck with all the grade 12s writing applications, and future JAMHacks 9 applicants! We’re looking forward to reading your application 💜

-JAMHacks 9 Team