I just completed the first semester of my second year in college, and I'm reflecting on what I learned in my classes. One class, in particular, stood out to me: "Foundations of an Open Source World," taught by Dr. Bryan Behrenshausen at Duke University. I enrolled in the class at the last minute because it seemed interesting and, if I’m being honest because it fit my schedule.
On the first day, Dr. Behrenshausen asked if we students knew or had used any open source programs. Until that day I had hardly heard the term “open source” and certainly wasn't cognizant of any products that fell into that category. As the semester went on, however, it dawned on me that the passion I have towards my career aspirations would not exist without open source.
Audacity and GIMP
My interest in technology started at age 12. Charged with the task of cutting music for my dance team, I searched the web for hours until I found Audacity, an open source audio editor. Audacity opened doors for me; no longer was I confined to repetitive eight-counts of the same beat. I started receiving requests left and right from others who wanted unique renditions of their favorite songs.
Weeks later, I stumbled upon a GIF on the internet of a cat with a Pop-Tart torso and a rainbow trail flying through space. I searched “how to make moving images” and discovered GIMP, an open source graphics editor, and used it to create a GIF of "The Simpsons" for my brother’s birthday present.
My budding interest grew into a full-time obsession: creating artwork on my clunky, laggy laptop. Since I didn’t have much luck with charcoal, paint, or watercolors, I used graphic design as an outlet for creative expression. I spent hours in the computer lab learning the basics of HTML and CSS on W3Schools so that I could fill an online portfolio with my childish GIFs. A few months later, I published my first website on WordPress.
Why open source
Fast-forward nearly a decade. Many things have changed, although some have stayed consistent: I still make graphics (mostly flyers), edit music for a dance group, and design websites (sleeker, more effective ones, I hope). The products I used have gone through countless version upgrades. But the most dramatic change is my approach to open source resources.
Considering the significance of open source products in my life has made me cherish the open movement and its mission. Open source projects remind me that there are initiatives in tech that promote social good and self-learning without being exclusive to those who are socioeconomically advantaged. My middle-school self, like countless others, couldn’t afford to purchase the Adobe Creative Suite, GarageBand, or Squarespace. Open source platforms allow us to not only achieve our goals but to discover interests that drive those goals by broadening our access networks.
My advice? Enroll in a class on a whim. It just might change the way you view the world.
2 Comments