Drupalcon mentored core sprint - get that Friday feeling!
The Drupalcon mentored core sprint is not just for developers.
This is the first post a three-part blog post series:
You're currently reading part one
Part two is here
Part three is here
TL;DR: participating at a large-scale mentoring event like this is an incredible experience. In fact, it is one of the most valuable learning opportunities you will have in your career.
Take advantage of it: come along first as a participant - and then, in future, once you have seen how it works, you can join this team of mentors:
The Drupalcon mentored core sprint is not just for developers.
Let me repeat that:
The Drupalcon mentored core sprint is not just for developers. It's for sales people, project managers, freelancers, site builders - in fact anybody in the Drupal world who wants to learn about contributing.
If you are a sales person or a project manager or a site builder - the Friday at Drupalcon is meant exactly for you, and you are welcome to come along and join in. Whatever your skill set is, Drupal needs you!
The Friday sprint at Drupalcon is brought to you by an amazing team of volunteers. Everything they do is centred around creating a friendly, non-intimidating atmosphere, so that everyone feels welcomed and productive.
This is your opportunity. A chance to make your first contribution to Drupal.
And - if that's not enough - you will simply meet great people, make new friends, and work together on Drupal Core with them. Friendships are made on this day which last for years.
So, what actually happens on Friday at Drupalcon?
I've been lucky enough in the past few years to have been supported by employer erdfisch so that I could go to Drupalcon.
If I didn't have a ticket for Drupalcon, I would travel there anyway, just to take part on the Friday, because it is the highlight of my professional year.
Three quick notes here:
- You do not need a Drupalcon ticket to go to the Friday mentored core sprints.
- If you are reading this and planning to be at Drupal Nashville then make sure you stay for the Friday!
- Drupalcon Europe will, we hope, be replaced by a Drupal Europe event in 2018. We are certainly hoping that this will include a core mentored sprint as well.
So, what makes this day so special?
Well, here's what the Mentored Core Sprint Room looks like at 08:30 in the morning. If you look very closely you can see Sutharsan setting up his table.
After an hour or two, this is what that very same room looks like:
A final word in memory of J-P Stacey
Last year at Drupalcon Dublin, I asked J-P to be my "mentor mentor" because
I was so impressed by his gentle and unruffled style. He organized the team
at his table with exemplary grace and good humour. I was particularly struck
by how quickly he gathered a group of enthusiastic people around him.
Bye J-P, it was a true honour to have known you, if only once a year, in this particular
context.
