by @geekgirls

With Geek Girls Network’s April anniversary quickly approaching, I have been fervently planning our next steps and reflecting on our journey.

I have mentioned before that GGN started on Twitter, as a way to share geeky news and links and build onto an existing community of smart women.

What you may not know is that, before I started @geekgirls, before I even had the slightest notion that I could partake in anything important, I was given an opportunity by someone I never met in person. This opportunity changed my life.

About 2 years ago, I started learning website design and coding. Struggling to catch up to the rest of the world, a co-worker gave me a few old issues of Website Magazine. Holding onto these publications like Dr. Jones hold’s onto his journal, I read every word of every magazine. Then, I subscribed to their website to learn more. WB online offered a place to learn from experts as well as from noobs, like me. I signed up for their e-newsletters, participated in their forums, and commented frequently on the article posts.

Last year, I received a WM email stating they were interested in article contributions for an upcoming issue. Excited and hopeful, I emailed Peter Prestipino, Editor-in-Chief, expressing my appreciation for this magazine and pitching an article idea that I felt could speak to beginner developers, like me.

Peter agreed and my article was published in the March 2009 issue!

I cannot explain with great enough detail how amazing it felt to have been accepted; to have something I created accepted; to have someone, whose hand I never shook, give me a chance.

This was the moment that everything changed. I wanted to give others the same opportunity to share their knowledge and experience; to have the chance to speak to an audience that would understand and appreciate them, even if it was only once.

This is the reason I decided to develop GGN as a contribution blog. I wanted to make sure that we all got a chance to shine and show-off our sexy smarts. And I am so thankful that, almost a year later, you continue reading and contributing!

If you are interested in contributing, don’t hesitate any longer, contact me today.