# Why Become a Mentee?

## Top Reasons to Join the Mentorship Program:

#### 🚀 **Learn from Anywhere**

* 100% remote—no need to relocate!
* Fit your learning around your schedule, from anywhere in the world.

#### 👩‍💻 **Hands-On Learning with Experts**

* Receive personalized guidance from experienced open source developers.
* Sharpen your skills in coding, testing, writing, project management, and much more.
* Tackle real-world software development tasks as part of a vibrant community.

#### 💰 **Get Paid While You Learn**

* Earn a stipend, paid in two installments based on your progress and final program completion.
* *(Note: A few programs are unpaid and will be clearly stated in the Program Description.)*

#### 💼 **Boost Your Career Prospects**

* Connect with employers seeking talent for open source projects.
* Gain exposure and receive potential referrals from mentors for job opportunities.
* *(Note: Job interactions and offers are outside the scope of the Mentorship Program and are solely between you and the employer.)*

#### 🛠️ **Build In-Demand Tech Skills**

* Work on real projects using the latest technologies.
* Learn new tools, workflows, and best practices in open source.

#### 🌐 **Grow Your Network**

* Become part of a global open source community.
* Expand your professional network by working closely with developers, community members, and industry leaders.
* Build lasting relationships with mentors and peers.

## What Our Mentees Say

***

**"Life-Changing and Liberating"**

> *“The Linux Kernel Mentorship is life changing. Throughout my internship, I learned that the kernel community is incredibly helpful and kind, always willing to assist new developers. Working on open source projects was a liberating experience—there are no barriers. Anyone, regardless of nationality, creed, or company affiliation, can contribute. That openness is both beautiful and intellectually stimulating.”*\
> — **Kelsey Skunberg, Linux Kernel Mentorship Program Mentee**

***

**"A Perfect Balance"**

> *“Before this internship, I mainly worked on theoretical blockchain and cryptography research at Purdue University. This internship gave me the perfect balance between development and research.”*\
> — **Jason You, Mentee for Hyperledger Caliper Visualization**

***

**"From Intimidation to Inspiration"**

> *“Open source development was initially new and a bit intimidating for me—even beyond the technical skills. However, presenting my project at a Hyperledger event was transformative. It introduced me to the Hyperledger community, opened up a world of possibilities, and allowed me to connect with project maintainers and exchange ideas. Suddenly, the open source Hyperledger ecosystem became accessible and exciting.”*\
> — **Attila Klenik, Hyperledger Summer Intern Program Alum & Mentor**

## Moments That Matter: Mentee Testimonials

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**"A Pride-Taking Moment!"**

*Think of the moment when your first PR (pull request) gets committed upstream in an application that developers across the globe will use. What a proud moment! Isn’t it?*

> **"The Linux Kernel Mentorship program was a life-changing experience. Working on open source projects was incredibly liberating for me. There are no barriers in open source—anyone can contribute, regardless of nationality, creed, or company affiliation, which I find profoundly beautiful. I believe it is an intellectually stimulating experience for everyone."**\
> — *Bharath Vedartham, Linux Kernel Mentee*

***

**Confidence and Growth**

> **"I had the honor of participating in the Linux Kernel Mentorship Program. Throughout the mentorship, I developed a deep passion for working on open source projects and engaging with their communities. My confidence as a developer grew tremendously.**
>
> **The application process laid a strong foundation for contributing to the Linux kernel, teaching me how to build patches, debug, run boot tests, and collaborate with open source communities.**
>
> **I was able to grow these new skills throughout the program while working on my selected project."**\
> — *Kelsey Skunberg, Linux Kernel Mentorship Program Mentee*

***

**From Newcomer to Mentor**

> **"Open source development was new territory for me and, admittedly, a bit intimidating at first. My breakthrough came when I presented my project work at a Hyperledger event—my first close-up experience with the community.**
>
> **It opened up a world of possibilities: I met maintainers, exchanged ideas, and had my questions answered.**
>
> **This experience set me on the path to become more involved, eventually becoming a maintainer for Hyperledger Caliper. As a next step, I had the pleasure of mentoring a Caliper-related internship project this year."**\
> — *Attila Klenik, Hyperledger Summer Intern Program Alum and Current Mentor*

***

**Inspired?**\
Leap and discover where open source mentorship can take you!