What being a Google Summer of Code mentor taught me?

And a guide for students wondering how to get selected.

In 2017, I became a Google Summer Of Code Mentor. For the uninitiated, the Google Summer of Code is an international annual program where students work on open source software projects and get paid when they successfully complete it. Head over to the official website for a timeline and more details. But hang out with me for a while before that :)

This is the most important piece of information, if you want to be selected this year!The Importance of Open Source

Why would Google pay students to complete Open Source projects? To encourage open source contribution in student developers. And If you are thinking why Open Source is important, well, just think of it in this way: the Android phones we all use today are based on Linux which was an open source initiative. Open source helps the world get better at a faster pace as it utilizes the best brains all over the world.

What I learned as a mentor?

1. Difficulty in giving feedback

That giving feedback was really difficult. It’s a balancing act between giving a student enough critical feedback so they can improve and at the same time making sure to appreciate their efforts to encourage them. I am a firm believer in critical feedback as a means of growth and improvement so just appreciating wouldn’t do for me.

2. Mentoring is tiring, but equally fulfilling

Managing a full time job with a mentor-ship engagement where you spend 4–5 hours a week is a tall task. Initially, the time commitment didn’t seem a lot but when it’s combined with a tiring day at work, I felt like I was forever busy. This made me realize how hectic my job actually was, what with the long commute in Bangalore traffic and work meetings to be attended from home. However, in the end, around August when the project ended, I felt a feeling of fulfillment. Giving back to the community is indeed very satisfying.

3. Know Thyself

I learned a few things about me in the process of being a mentor. I was passionate about the intricacies of the PowerUp Android App and how the various features and functionalities should be designed, I always had a list of suggestions and ways in which something could be done. I realized I could be a good Product Manager, If I wanted to take it up in the future as a career option.

Conference Invitations and Networking!

Being a mentor put me in touch with a huge network of GSOC mentors and students who were invited to Google Summer Of Code Conference at Google headquarters in California. When I couldn’t go for personal reasons, I was sent another invitation to a GSOC meet-up held at the Google Office in New York. It indeed was a privilege to meet the Director of Open Source at Google,Chris DiBona there who inspired all alumnus of GSOC with his stories of how the GSOC kick-started at Google. A few organizations showcased their projects coupled with a few students who showed what they accomplished as part of GSOC. The interactions were priceless and this experience made me believe, that when we give back to the community, we receive even more back.

I highly encourage software engineers/graphic designers to consider being a mentor and see for yourself how mentoring can enrich your life.

Bonus: A gift for the students

Now to the part where I guide the students in the process of applying to GSOC mentor organizations and getting selected. I saw a lot of students asking questions on Quora about being selected as a GSOC student and made a mini-course on the subject. I hope to help the students in whatever way I can through this YouTube playlist.

Disclaimer: I have never been a GSOC student so things might work out a bit differently in real life, but if you need an estimated framework this course will provide you that.

Here is a list of my answers on Quora on the GSOC topic:

• What advice would you give to a non-CS student to crack the Google Summer of Code 2018?
• What are the things a student should know in C++ while starting contributing to open source for GSoC?
• What should be my learning path, in detail, in order to get selected for GSoC 2018 using C++?
• How do I prepare for the Google Summer of Code (GSOC) 2017 with C++ as my programming language (see description)?
• What all concepts of C/C++ should I be well versed with if I need to apply for GSOC'16?

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This post was originally published at my website www.heisenbugtech.com

What being a Google Summer of Code mentor taught me? was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.