Earlier this year, I came across an announcement on the Udacity website, It read “Earn a Developer Scholarship from Google!” .There were two learning paths one as a Web Developer and other Android Developer. This was an opportunity filled with learning valuable skills with the guidance and support of experts from Google and Udacity through a world class curriculum, and be a part of a community of mobile and web developers under the Google’s Reskilling India Program.

About me:
I Kaniganti Sai Tarun, a 3rd year student currently pursuing Bachelors of Technology under the specialization of Computer Science in Gitam Deemed to be University. My interest in coding made me choose the Computer Science G_roup in my 9th grade. I am constantly learning and refining my skills to become a successful Android Developer. I wish to step into the field of Artificial Intelligence and provide my contribution to the progress and development of Intelligent Systems that can improve life on Earth.

Udacity:
Udacity is a platform of learning which is focused towards democratizing education through the offering of world-class higher education opportunities that are accessible, flexible, and economical. Virtually anyone on the planet with an internet connection and a commitment to self-empowerment through learning can come to Udacity, master a suite of job-ready skills, and pursue rewarding employment. This platform provides exceptional and relevant course content, crafted by experts at both Udacity and Google

Udacity Nanodegree is an achievement that makes you job ready and provides an individual fast-tracked access to exclusive employment opportunities with Udacity’s hiring partners.

My goal in Android Development-

I was planning to attend Associate Android Developer exam and get it cleared but I felt that I should work a lot for this and should be fully equipped with the advanced concepts of Android and should be also solving problems without much difficulty. I felt more enthused seeing people receiving their Associate Android Developer Certificate from Google team which was brought directly to the home and given. I wanted to be one among them, be a part of Google Developers Community. Wanted to build a quality app “for a noble cause which serves millions or at least in thousands”. So I decided that I should first pursue Android Nanodegree Program, then take the Associate Android Developer exam and then step into professional app development process.

Google Udacity Scholarship Program:

Developing few apps gave me full confidence but I felt I was lagging something in Android, then there came “GOOGLE UDACITY SCHOLARSHIP -INDIA” , I applied for this on 26th Jan’18.

It was 7th Feb’18_ , I got a mail from Udacity stating that I have been selected for Phase-1 of the scholarship program, that moment I was very much excited. Then I was waiting for Feb’14 to come for getting started with the course and getting set with the community. And it all started well.

It was really an awesome experience. I loved it a lot. The Slack and forum community set up is a really incomparable, the response we get when a query is posted is really worth it. That too, in no time the answers are being posted. Even at midnight people are active and answer the questions which are being put up. It’s unlike a classroom learning, with 1k plus active heads, ranging from an absolute beginner to a professional working person. Here we engage only due to our interest. I really… really keep the people, who say that they have dropped their college and have set up their own path for their career, in great height. Their passion, perseverance really motivates students like me.

And the feeling that I get when my work is been appreciated by my co-scholars really motivates me a lot and make to get involved and explore lots of stuff in it.
Thank you all for the help you have done.

The Hurdles

Although these months are hectic for me with many things like internal exams that too twice, internal assessments, followed by the Semester exams, internship applications, mini projects in hand, that did pose as speed breakers in my ability to perform to my full potential in the task at hand, but proper time management, the exceptional course content, the exciting feeling of so many individuals working towards the same goal with hurdles of their own, and the ever lively slack group kept me going and in pace.

I made sure that I should complete the given course and be active in Slack Community and Forums, and yes I have completed the course, I hope that I was active, helping the fellow scholars. I actually felt many times, why this scholarship shouldn’t be in my free time like semester holidays so that I would have got a chance to help more, learn more, share more. 
The collaborative project concept is the wonderful thing which was introduced, this not only makes scholars learn new kinds of stuff but also makes the concept clear and strong.

The Collaborative Projects

Come April , just one month left, I am finally done with the course content and actively helping out other individuals for the same , another exciting announcement follows , “You all get to be a part of collaborative projects”. I had never been a part of collaborative projects, and getting to be a part of one, that too at this scale , I was excited. The spirit of working with so many lively and experienced learning minds ,truly amazing. We’ve started working on the collaborative projects now and it’s amazing to see and be a part of it, the way things are handled,how stuff unfolds&nbsp,the discussions, everything is turning out to be a new and knowledgeable experience.

The Finish Line

Now we’re closing in on the end of phase one, it ends on 14th May 2018 with this those 150 students who have been an active part of the course and community and have proven themselves would be given the opportunity to be a part of phase two and go on further to receive a Android Developer Nanodegree&nbsp.Getting selected or not yes it matters but what matters more is the excessive knowledge and experience this phase 1 of the course brought my way.
Yes this would turn out to be a great opportunity if given but if not I still have the learning, experience,growth I achieved and yes definitely the determination and focus that grew stronger being a part of something this big.

The Knowledge and Experience
This challenge brought a plethora of knowledge and experience my way summarizing them 

1. I got to understand how collaborative projects function, working together as a team discussing issues and coming to agree upon solution.

2. Getting to be a part of and getting to know a community filled with so many bright minds working towards the single goal of developing better quality and well versed digital environment , with all of them working so hard,the application we know today is definitely going to be totally different and enhanced for the better.

The Inspiration
Every individual I came across in this scholarship was an inspiration in one way or another for me. A whole community filled with bright minds and a story of their own.
But here I’ll mention our course admin majorly.
Mr Akshit Jain
We all recently came to know about his journey in becoming the student experience lead at Udacity and the achievements he gained, through nothing else but pure merit and hard-work. His journey, definitely shouts out an inspiration to each and everyone out there,that success speaks to you “ It really doesn’t matter who you are or which college you belong to, not a prime institute individual I don’t care , I am success, looking onto just one thing and only that, I care about what you do, how you do it, how hard you work for it. Work for the passion of working itself, learning from your experiences, work hard my friend and I will find you “

And Also I would like to thank Harshit Dwivedi and Akshit Jain for clearing my doubts in Mobile Developer Fest 2018 at Tirupati.
This experience has inspired and motivated me more than ever to run towards my goal, I’ve got to be a better individual than I was yesterday , each day.

This scholarship track has been an amazing experience combined with getting to meet new people, collaborating with them, getting to learn under such great and experienced instructors, being a part of the community and the feeling of being a part of something big. All together an opportunity of a lifetime. I’d like to thank both Udacity and Google India for coming up with this opportunity for us.