Reflections on Building a Project for a Hackathon
Joining a Team for the Hackathon
I’ve been wanting to build my own project for a hackathon for quite a while (Orbit), but every time I join one, I think I don’t want to do it alone. I want to be part of a team. This time, I joined a team, and I’d like to believe that the reason they didn’t pick me as a winner is because of my team. It’s very unfortunate because not only did they slow down my progress, but they also didn’t contribute anything meaningful. I ended up doing everything, and that’s absolutely painful to think about. I was supposed to be working with other people that I matched with, but that didn’t happen.
Choosing Teammates Critically
Looking back, I think I should have thought critically about who should be on my team just like how I thought critically about the people who messaged me. I didn’t just say, “Oh sure, feel free to join.” In some way, that desperation, that feeling of having no one, caused me to just allow them to join me. I explore that more here: Dilemma between working alone or joining a group
Influence of a Female Teammate
Maybe also, in some way, the fact that there was a girl in the loop influenced me. I wanted to be with and around her because that’s just what a man wants to do, right? Because I accepted her, I felt I had to accept her two other teammates, and that’s where things went wrong.
Potential Lost and Frustrations
I don’t know what to think about this. Was this experience useful or not? I had so much potential in this hackathon; I could have won not only money but recognition for Orbit and for founders. It sucks that I couldn’t earn that recognition because that’s exactly what I’m trying to build and who I’m trying to join. Unfortunately, they didn’t see the vision. I don’t know what happened; it kind of sucks.