My Journey as an Outreachy Intern at OpenTelemetry

My Journey as an Outreachy Intern at OpenTelemetry

Yesterday marked the end of my journey as an Outreachy intern at OpenTelemetry, and I want to share my experience. I hope this story encourages someone who is trying to find their way in tech, just as I was not too long ago.

The Beginning: Deciding to Transition into Tech

In December 2023, I made the bold decision to leave mechanical engineering and fully pursue a career in tech. It wasn't an easy choice, but I knew it was time for a change. I was just starting to learn DevOps when I heard about the Outreachy Internship from my friend Uchechukwu Robinson , who had participated in the previous round. I saw it as a fantastic opportunity, even though I had no real experience in tech at that time. Frankly, I didn’t expect to be accepted—I was new to this world and still finding my footing.

The Application Process: A Leap of Faith

As a Christian, I believe in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that belief played a significant role in my application process. When it was time to write my essay, I struggled with what to say. I didn't want to fabricate a story or exaggerate my experiences. I prayed about it, and one morning after prayer, I felt inspired to write a story that truly reflected my journey—how my ethnicity had influenced my tech career. The words flowed naturally, and I was surprised by how authentic the story felt. I even had a friend review it, and she assured me it was good. After submitting the essay, I let go and almost forgot about the application.

The Unexpected Answer

The Sunday before the Outreachy results were announced, I was in church when I distinctly felt the Holy Spirit talking to me about how He wanted me to spend the first part of the internship stipend. I found it amusing because I hadn't even been accepted yet! The very next day, I received a notification that I had been accepted into the Outreachy Internship. I was thrilled and immediately called my parents and friends, who were all so happy for me. But I soon realized that getting accepted was just the first step—now I had to choose a project.

Choosing the OpenTelemetry Project

When it was time to select a project, I prayed again, asking for direction. I felt led to choose the OpenTelemetry project, even though it required skills in Golang, which I didn’t have at the time. Another project was available where I already knew the mentor, and it seemed like an easier path, but I felt God guiding me toward OpenTelemetry. It was a completely new field for me, and I had to start from scratch.

Learning and Contributing

I spent a lot of time researching OpenTelemetry but struggled to find a way to contribute. During this period, the Holy Spirit nudged me to publish two articles on OpenTelemetry, which I did. Through a series of "time and chance" events, I met Sanket Teli who had worked on the project before and offered me some guidance. This gave me the clarity I needed.

To contribute effectively, I had to learn Golang. A friend of mine Isaac Arogbonlo , guided by God, got me access to a Golang course worth hundreds of dollars, and I dove in. My first contribution came when I was led to a specific PR. After studying it, I used the same pattern to handle three other issues, and that’s how I got my first PR merged. By the end of the contribution phase, I had six PRs merged.

Speaking at My First Tech Event

During the contribution phase, I was forced by the Holy Spirit to apply to speak at a Kubernetes event in Lagos, Nigeria. Surprisingly, I was accepted as one of the speakers. This was my first tech event, both as an attendee and a speaker, and it went exceptionally well. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and I realized I had more to offer than I initially thought.

Overcoming Doubts and Challenges

There were many times I wanted to give up on the OpenTelemetry project because I felt overwhelmed. But God used my friends to encourage me and keep me going. After the contribution period ended, I received another congratulatory message: I had been selected for the full internship out of 60 other applicants.

Working with a Great Mentor

My mentor, Yuri Oliveira Sa , was incredibly welcoming. This was my first remote job, and many things were new to me, but Yuri was patient, kind, and supportive. He was surprised by how much I was able to accomplish in such a short time, given my recent transition into tech. Under his guidance, I worked on building the Zerolog bridge and learned a tremendous amount about the OpenTelemetry ecosystem.

The End of a Chapter and the Beginning of Another

I also connected with amazing people like Khushi Jain , who provided invaluable resources, and ?? Damien MATHIEU , who assisted me whenever I encountered challenges with the zerolog bridge. Additionally, Kayla Reopelle was instrumental in helping me get up to speed with Ruby and guiding me on how to contribute to the OpenTelemetry Ruby Contrib repository.

As I wrap up this chapter of my life, I am filled with gratitude—for the guidance, the challenges, the learning, and the growth. If you’re reading this and trying to find your way in tech, know that it’s possible. Keep pushing, keep learning, and trust the process. You never know where your journey might take you.

And if you are a believer like i am, know this that God has great things planned out for you, things that will blow your mind. Our God is a good God.