I’ve always been a bit of a self-taught wanderer when it comes to tech. Diving into different niches, learning as I go, and testing myself in various small hackathons is something that just fits me. So when I came across the Æternity Uni Hack 2024, I knew it was time to take the plunge into something bigger, something more challenging.

Hackathons, to me, are more than just a competition—they’re a chance to explore, grow, and measure yourself against your own potential. It’s a space where you can test your skills in real-world scenarios, make mistakes, learn from them, and walk away with new insights. For this hackathon, it’s not just about building some cool AI-powered app or integrating decentralized oracles with blockchain; it’s about challenging what I know and seeing how far I can push myself.

Prepping for this event has been an experience in itself. I’ve been brushing up on Sophia, Æternity’s smart contract language. The language feels intuitive enough, but like all things in the blockchain space, it requires focus and problem-solving at a deeper level. Between practicing with smaller projects and preparing for the hackathon, it’s been a mix of excitement and that familiar nervousness—wondering if I’m ready, if my ideas will hold up, if I’ll be able to execute them as planned.

But that’s what I love about these kinds of challenges. They’re not about perfecting something in isolation. It’s about showing up, trying, failing, and trying again. There’s something intensely human about that process—about putting your ideas out there in front of others, knowing that they may fail, but also knowing that every failure is a step forward. It’s a grind, but it’s an exciting one.

I remember my first hackathon. It was a small, local event, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t win, didn’t come close. But the experience was electrifying—the rush of building something in a short timeframe, the brainstorming with a team, the late-night coding sessions fueled by coffee and stubbornness. It hooked me. Since then, I’ve taken part in a handful of hackathons, each one a new opportunity to learn, each one pushing me a little further.

This time, though, the stakes feel a little higher. Æternity Uni Hack 2024 is on a much larger scale, and I’ll be competing with developers and innovators from around the world. It’s a chance to create something that could potentially make a real impact, to play with the big ideas—blockchain interoperability, AI-powered systems, decentralized applications.

But in the end, it’s not about the prize (though, let’s be honest, $15,000 is a nice motivator). It’s about the experience, the process, the learning. It’s about stepping out of my comfort zone, throwing my ideas into the ring, and seeing what comes out of it. Win or lose, I know I’ll walk away having grown in some way, and that’s worth more than any prize.

If you’re into hacking, whether you’re just starting or have been around for a while, I can’t recommend hackathons enough. They’re an incredible way to test yourself, to collaborate, to learn. And if you’re curious about pushing the boundaries of blockchain and AI, events like this are a great playground.

For me, the Æternity Uni Hack 2024 is just another step on the path. And I can’t wait to see where it leads.

If you’re up for the challenge too, you can check it out here, but remember—it’s not about winning. It’s about learning, growing, and seeing what you’re capable of.