My story-Dinil Hansara

stories/aneesh..md

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+# My Open Source Journey ✨  
+
+👤 **Name:** Amiti Aneesh  
+📅 **First Contribution:** October 2025 (Hacktoberfest 2025)  
+🔧 **Tools/Tech Used:** HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, Express, MySQL, Prisma ORM, Git, GitHub  
+
+---
+
+🌟 **My Experience:**  
+I began my open-source journey during **Hacktoberfest 2025**, and it was an amazing learning experience. This was my **first-ever pull request**, and honestly, I was both excited and nervous. I used to think that contributing to open source meant solving big, complex issues — but soon I realized that even the smallest improvements matter.  
+
+From exploring repositories and reading contribution guidelines to forking, branching, and creating my first PR — every step taught me something new. I learned how real-world collaboration happens, how to communicate effectively through issues, and how even small code changes make a big difference.  
+
+Though it was my first contribution, the process gave me a huge confidence boost and motivated me to keep exploring open source. I now understand that open source is not just about coding — it’s about **community, learning, and growth**.  
+
+---
+
+📌 **Advice for Beginners:**  
+Don’t wait for the “right time” — your first PR can be the start of something great. Contribute in any way you can: fix small bugs, update documentation, or improve a UI. Every contribution counts, and each one helps you grow as a developer 🚀  

stories/bitflicker64.md

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+# 🌱 My Tech Journey — Himanshu Verma
+
+Hey everyone! I’m Himanshu Verma, a Computer Science student at Newton School of Technology.  
+My journey into tech started long before college — back when I was still in school, curious about how things really worked behind the screen.
+
+---
+
+## 🧩 How It All Started
+It began with simple curiosity: taking apart computers, exploring file systems, and messing with random software just to see what would happen.  
+That curiosity slowly turned into learning — from writing basic Java programs to experimenting with Linux distributions. I’ve tested everything from **Mint** and **Zorin** to **Arch Linux**, learning how systems actually function under the hood.
+
+I even built my own **Java-based shell** that handles commands like `echo`, `exit`, and `type`, and learned how PATH resolution works. That project really sparked my love for backend logic and problem-solving.
+
+---
+
+## 🧠 Learning & Growth
+Along the way, I got interested in **ethical hacking** and **penetration testing**, trying to understand not just how to build things — but how to break and secure them.  
+
+I’ve also explored **open source** projects and tools, created an **npm package** to help others easily add consistent headers and footers to their web projects, and participated in events like **Hacktoberfest**, where I learned the value of contributing to a community.
+
+---
+
+## ⚙️ Where I’m Headed
+Right now, I’m focusing on improving my DSA, mastering Java fundamentals, and strengthening my problem-solving skills. I’m also learning how to balance tech with consistency, discipline, and creativity — especially after going through phases where I lost motivation.
+
+But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that passion can fade — and still be rebuilt stronger than before.  
+I’m not just coding for grades anymore; I’m coding to understand, to grow, and to make something meaningful that my parents can be proud of.
+
+---
+
+### 💬 Final Note
+If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt stuck or lost in your tech journey — don’t quit. Take breaks, explore, rebuild.  
+Because sometimes, losing your spark is the first step toward finding your fire again.
+

stories/ekta-sachdev.md

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+# My Open Source Journey ✨
+
+**👤 Name:** Ekta Sachdev  
+**📅 First Contribution:** October 2025  
+**🔧 Tools/Tech Used:** Python, HTML, CSS, Git, GitHub  
+**🌟 My Experience:**  
+Participating in Hacktoberfest 2025 has been an amazing experience!  
+I started as a beginner, learning how to fork repositories, create branches, and submit my first pull request.  
+Through this event, I discovered the value of collaboration and how open-source communities support each other.  
+Each PR helped me gain confidence in coding, documentation, and version control.  
+It’s been inspiring to see contributors from around the world share their knowledge and experiences.  
+
+**📌 Advice for Beginners:**  
+Don’t be afraid to start small — every meaningful contribution counts!  
+Ask questions, learn Git step by step, and most importantly, enjoy the process. 💪

stories/kapish9741.md

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+# 🌍 My Open Source Journey 🚀
+
+👤 **Name:** Abhishek Kumar Patel  
+📅 **First Contribution:** Taking my very first step into open source  
+🛠️ **Tech Stack:** Next.js, React, Node.js, Express.js  
+
+
+### 🌟 My Experience  
+
+I began my web development journey in **August 2024**, driven by curiosity and the excitement of turning ideas into reality. One of my earliest projects was a **college dating website**, where I learned how to design intuitive user experiences, manage backend logic, and write clean, maintainable code.  
+
+Through this project, I gained hands-on experience with **Next.js, React, Node.js, and Express.js**, and learned to think from both the developer’s and the user’s perspectives. More importantly, I discovered the true value of collaboration, feedback, and community support.  
+
+Now, as I take my **first step into open source**, I’m filled with excitement and curiosity. For me, open source isn’t just about writing code — it’s about **learning, sharing, and contributing** to something bigger than myself. This marks the beginning of a journey I’m eager to grow with.  
+
+
+### 💡 Advice for Beginners  
+
+Don’t wait for the “perfect moment” to start — it rarely comes. Begin with what you know, stay consistent, and keep learning as you go. Mistakes aren’t setbacks; they’re proof that you’re moving forward and improving with every step.  

stories/sharma.md

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+# My Open Source Journey ✨  
+
+👤 **Name:** R Sai Praneeth Sharma  
+📅 **First Contribution:** Hacktoberfest 2025  
+🔧 **Tools/Tech Used:** HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, Express.js, Prisma ORM, MySQL, Git & GitHub  
+
+🌟 **My Experience:**  
+I began my open-source journey during **Hacktoberfest 2025**. At first, I was unsure about contributing — I thought open source was only for experienced developers who could tackle big issues. But I soon realized that **every contribution matters**, no matter how small — fixing a typo, improving documentation, or solving minor bugs can make a difference.  
+
+My first pull requests didn’t get merged, but instead of getting discouraged, I learned from every rejection. I explored forking repositories, cloning projects, creating branches, making commits, and raising pull requests the right way. Each step boosted my confidence and sharpened my technical skills.  
+
+Today, I’ve successfully contributed to several web development repositories — improving UI, fixing bugs, and adding new features. This journey taught me the real value of **collaboration, persistence, and community** in open source.  
+
+📌 **Advice for Beginners:**  
+Don’t wait to be an expert — start contributing now! Small contributions matter. Stay consistent, keep learning, and enjoy the journey 🚀