Attending a hackathon for the first time can be an overwhelming and exciting experience. As an engineering student, I was eagerly looking forward to my first hackathon. I had heard about these intense coding events before, but nothing could have prepared me for the energy and excitement I felt as I walked through the doors of the event venue. In this blog post, I'll take you through my first hackathon experience, sharing the challenges I faced, the things I learned, and the unforgettable memories I made.

Recently, I got a chance to attend a 24-hour hackathon at the UEMJ campus (Acehack 2.0) on the 1st and 2nd of April. which was a mesmerizing experience and full of learnings, ok first let me introduce myself to you

Hi! My name is Lokesh Kumawat, and I'm currently in my second year of college studying Computer Science Engineering. I've always had a fascination with technology and enjoy experimenting with it. I often find myself lost in thought, imagining new and creative ways to utilize web development, web3, AI, and other exciting tech.

Now, I know I might sound like some kind of tech wizard, but let me tell you, I'm just an average student trying to figure out my interest in this tech domain

It can be pretty overwhelming, especially with all the talk about AI and the future. But I'm determined to keep pushing forward and figure out how I can make my mark. So, let's explore this journey together and see where it takes us!

The event had problem statements from various domains like Web3, healthcare, cyber-security, education, and AI, and we chose to tackle the challenge of remote availability of healthcare services.

I was initially intimidated by the event, having heard that hackathons were highly competitive and fast-paced. But as soon as I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Our team (Tragic Bytes) consisted of four members

We were ready to develop a solution after we decided on our problem statement to work on,

but guess what,

the internet connection disappointed us a lot, we couldn't share files and search for basic help to develop our project, it took a lot of time until a stable connection was available which was during night time

One of the things that I found most enjoyable about the hackathon was the atmosphere around me, with teams from various other colleges competing with each other and creating different solutions. It provided a realistic picture of what I knew and what I didn't, reminding me of the many things I have yet to learn.

Despite my limited technical knowledge, I was able to contribute by coding the front end of our project.

Apart from working on our project, my team and I also had a chance to explore the UEMJ campus. We took pictures of the beautiful architecture and scenery, enjoyed some delicious food, and even played games at night to unwind from the intensity of the hackathon.

As the deadline approached, we all pulled together to make sure our project was completed and submitted on time. It wasn't perfect, but we were proud of what we had accomplished in such a short amount of time. The judges were impressed by our solution, and we even won an honorable mention for our efforts.

Must-do tasks

• You should have at least one feature implemented in your project working properly to show mentors

• You should know how to record and edit a video explanation of your project to be uploaded on youtube

• You should create a basic PowerPoint presentation that outlines both the current functions and future plans for your project. This presentation should provide a clear and concise overview of what your project is about, what it currently does, and what you hope to achieve with it in the future. It is important to ensure that your presentation effectively communicates your ideas and goals to others, as this can help to garner interest and support for your project.

Some things I unconsciously learned

• Hackathons are not just about creating a solution to a given PS, it is more of a team effort where other team members brainstorm their ideas with each other and help in the execution of different functionalities of your solution.

• It is important to effectively manage your time and conserve your energy since one has only 24 hours, and a significant portion of that time is usually spent on meals, daily activities, and other miscellaneous tasks.

• Working on the backend of a project during the night can be advantageous as it provides a quiet and less distracting environment. With less activity going on, you can focus on your work more effectively. The peaceful atmosphere can also help stimulate creativity and innovation, allowing you to come up with new ideas and solutions.

Overall, my first hackathon experience was a huge success. I learned so much about web development and teamwork and had a great time doing it. I can't wait to attend another hackathon and see where my newfound skills and knowledge will take me.