If you’ve ever looked at a major hackathon page, hovered your mouse over the "Register" button, and hesitated—this post is for you.
Having participated in local, physical hackathons before, I was no stranger to coding under a deadline. But when I signed up for my first Major League Hacking (MLH) event, a sudden wave of hesitation hit me. I realized I’d be competing against thousands of skilled developers from all over the world—people I didn't know, using stacks I was still mastering.
I found myself asking... "Is this even worth my time if I might not win?"
The Real Purpose of a Hackathon
After taking a step back to reflect on the experience, I came to a realization that changed my perspective completely: Hackathons are built for personal growth, not just competition.
