From Django Girls SJC-Brazil to DjangoCon Europe
This blog post has been written by Kátia, former attendee of Django Girls São José dos Campos. You can find the original version in Portuguese here.
It started in November of 2015, here in São José dos Campos, São Paulo - Brazil. Django Girls, a free event during a the weekend that aim to learn Django, a Python Web Framework. I’ve never had contact with Django and I did know almost nobody who would attend the event.
It’s funny but it seems that when something should happen, they just happen. A weekend that I met amazing people and a framework that would change the course of my life.
The first experience with Django was amazing. I spend two days following the Django Girls Tutorial, which by the way is great for those who are just starting out - highly recommend it. We learn the first steps to create a blog using the framework. It was two intense days, but I could also meet and rediscover people who I still keep in touch.
The event went along with the Python Brazil. Because of this, I got to know the girls who organize the Django Girls and also the people who were attending the Python Brazil.
What most caught my attention, of course, it was the community itself. How people are willing to help you, answer the questions in groups, communities, etc. All very receptive. :)
After the event, I kept in touch with the organizers and attendants by the Telegram group. We started an open source project to generate certificates of the participants of the event through the Live Coding Pyladies. We met - online - for 2 weekends to start the project and then we create issues in Trello to share the tasks.
Also in December, I had an opportunity to participate in a selection process of a company from the Czech Republic, Skypicker.com. The company uses Python! It was my chance! :)
Briefly - I spent the nights after my work and weekends studying Python/Django. I did 2 tests and at the beginning of January I got the job! \o/ I already started working - remotely, for now - in a company’s internal project which is in Django. :)
Also in January, Paula Grangeiro shared a link through her Facebook’s page: “The DjangoCon has an allowance program promoting diversity. Just sign up at this link and hope to be one of 20 selected to attend the conference, all paid expenses.”.
By the website: DjangoCon Europe is a community-run & non-profit event that aims to gather a diverse group of curious, passionate and kind Djangonauts every year to learn, share and meet.
Do you know the feeling that it’ll never happen to you? Yeah, that’s how I felt. But the difference is that even so, deep down I always have a hope that it can be possible. My year had started so well, I had got the job I wanted, why do not try? :)
I signed up and I wrote about the attendance in Django Girls SJC. About the incredible experience of had attended the event and about my new job to work/start with Django. I was super excited! :)
On 1st of February, I was checking my email and I saw the subject of the message: “DjangoCon Europe 2016: Result of your scholarship application.” Of course, at first I thought that was an email saying that unfortunately I couldn’t get this time, and I opened with no pretense. And the first sentence I read:
“Dear Kátia,
Good news! Your application for the DjangoCon Europe 2016 Scholarship Programme has been success. YAY! (…) ”
At that time, I froze. I didn’t know if I had read wrong, if it was a joke. :P It was an indescribable feeling. I wrote to the Django Girls’ group still in disbelief. But it’s true. I have already registered for the conference and they added me to a list of emails with all participants who were also selected. :)
I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic experience! And I already promised for girls of Django Girls Brazil that I’ll share everything with you all - this post is the first step! :)
See you in Budapest! ;)