This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Om Sharma
Hey Dev family,
Today I’m sharing something that took me a month to put into words.
I was selected for @google Google Summer of Code 2025 - my first-ever international achievement. But I’m no longer part of the program… because of my age.
Yes, I cracked GSoC at 17. That joy quickly turned into heartbreak when the opportunity slipped through my hands. But every moment of this journey meant something to me - and I want to share it. 🌱
🌟 The Best Day of My Life - 8th May 2025
I still remember the moment I saw my name on the GSoC accepted list. I froze.
Tears of joy. Smiles all around. My college, my friends, my family - all celebrating together. On 27th May, my college even surprised me with a banner in my city, barely a kilometer from home.
It felt like a dream come true. The story even gained traction on LinkedIn and X. But that’s when life threw a curveball.
📩 The Twist No One Saw Coming
The banner proudly said: “Om cracked GSoC at the age of 17.”
It was true - and it went viral.
Soon after, I received an email from Google asking for age verification. According to GSoC rules, participants must be 18 or above. I wasn’t aware of this rule - no verification was asked during application, and I had no intent to hide anything. I was just contributing and doing what I love.
I missed the first mail on 28th May. The second came on 30th May, asking me to respond before 1st June.
📝 I Responded Honestly
On 1st June, I shared everything - my contributions, my passion, and the fact that I would turn 18 on 14th June. But by the end of the day, I received a message saying I was officially withdrawn for not meeting the eligibility criteria.
That email shattered me.
This is my answer to trolls - I chose honesty over silence.
💬 My Perspective
In my view, if a 17-year-old can clear a global program like GSoC, it should be seen as encouragement - a signal to support early talent.
But I also respect the rules and understand the decision.
✅ My college was innocent - they just celebrated me.
✅ I was innocent - I didn’t try to bend any rules.
✅ The GSoC team followed their policy - fairly.
🔁 What’s Next?
Yes, I’m out of GSoC 2025. But I’m not out of the game.
I’ll be back - stronger, eligible, and more determined than ever.
Until then, I’ll keep building. I’ll keep learning. I’ll keep growing.
💡 “Age might define eligibility, but it can never define capability”
🙏 Heartfelt Thanks to
💼 My organization and its amazing maintainers AOSSIE Jaideep Prasad Chandan S Gowda Aarush Acharya
🎓 My college Polaris School of Technology
🧑🏫 My Bhaiyas (seniors) Divij Sharma, Naveen Sharma, Prayag Biswas, Rahat, Vipin Kumar, Nitish Jha, Akhilesh Kr.
🤝 My friends and well-wishers
Yug Ramoliya, Vijeta Narwal, Kanishka Garg, Sneha Chaurasia, Riya Kumari
👪 And most importantly, my family and guardians - who lifted me up when I was down Divya Rewtani, Suyash Chaturvedi, Mukul Rustagi
#GSoC #OpenSource #AgeIsJustANumber
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Om Sharma
Om Sharma | Sciencx (2025-07-19T12:06:15+00:00) 🚀 My GSoC 2025 Journey – A Dream, A Twist & A Lesson for Life 💔. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/07/19/%f0%9f%9a%80-my-gsoc-2025-journey-a-dream-a-twist-a-lesson-for-life-%f0%9f%92%94/
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