About this Mini Project

Banner for "I'm Human: Tech Confessions". Subheading: "A Mini Project for DevFest Brunei 2023 (and maybe beyond)"

For GDG DevFest Brunei 2023

I’m Human

“I’m Human” is a project umbrella that is based on the following thoughts:

  • Developments in tech continue to move fast:
    • We’re grappling with the explosion of AI in mainstream consumer tech;
    • There are now more developers and IT practitioners, with a range of competitive skillsets.
  • I wanted to emphasise our “humanity”, which can mean a lot of things:
    • Having “limitations” and “opportunities” – how as humans, we need a balance of work and play, navigating interpersonal connections and shifting emotions and finite time – for these to either “hold us back” or to drive our creativity and willpower;
    • Gaps in AI especially when it comes to Brunei-specific contexts and knowledge.

Tech Confessions

By no means an original idea, I used the “anonymous confession” concept that can take many forms (postcards, post-its, or found objects).

I wanted an outlet for those in our community – students, enthusiasts, practitioners – to share a “confession”:

  • a feeling, statement, or experience
  • that makes them feel personally or professionally insecure in our tech industry or communities
  • examples:
    • feeling: “I feel anxious everyday in my senior IT role at work”
    • statement: “I don’t understand how to use CLI”; “I’m not really interested in fintech”
    • experience: “I failed the first year of my IT diploma”

Why? Because any of us can feel lacking or inferior, at any level. Students. Self-taught techies. Those in their early careers. Those who don’t get support and career development in their tech jobs. Women in tech – whether you’re fighting microaggressions or non-constructive perfectionism. Anyone who has “imposter syndrome” despite their achievements.

This project, a display of anonymous confessions, aspires to help release these insecurities into the tech community, but to also provide the opportunity for conversations around supporting each other.