βπΎ Share Your Story on Faces of ALX SE
Whether you're just starting out or already building in tech, your story can inspire others β and we want to help you tell it by providing a ready platform with a huge audience!
Faces of ALX SE (FOASE) runs a Substack blog that highlights the journeys, wins, and growth of learners, grads, and alumni from ALXβs programming and development tracks. Whether you're just starting out or already building in tech, your story can inspire others β and we want to help you tell it by providing a ready platform with a huge audience!
β Who Can Contribute?
We welcome stories from:
ALX programming and development program learners
Graduates and alumni
Mentors and external collaborators
No writing experience? No worries β weβll guide you!
π‘ What to Write About
Weβre looking for honest, reflective, and inspiring stories. Some ideas:
Your ALX Journey β How you found ALX, what youβve learned, and how itβs shaping your future
Career Transition β Switching careers into tech and how ALX played a part
Projects & Challenges β A cool project you built, a bug that taught you a lesson, or how you approached your capstone project
Collaboration & Community β Stories about teamwork, support, or mentorship within the ALX community
Growth Moments β Times you almost gave up but didnβt β and what helped you push through
Tips & Tech Advice β Study routines, learning hacks, or programming tips from your personal toolkit
Beyond the Code β How coding has changed your mindset, confidence, or worldview
β¨ Ways to Be Featured
π Solo Contributor- Write the post yourself, and weβll edit and publish it under your name. Youβll be credited as the author with a short bio, optional photo, and links to your portfolio, LinkedIn, or GitHub.
π― Co-authoring & Collabs- Partner with another learner or alumni for a co-written piece. We also welcome collaborations with facilitators or blogs written as a duo (e.g. learner + mentor).
π€ Cross-posts- Already have a blog? Weβre open to re-posting (with proper credit) or co-publishing β especially if it relates to your experience in any of our developer programs.
π£οΈ Interview-style Features- Not a fan of writing? No worries. We can interview you and turn the conversation into a written article credited to you
π οΈ How It Works
Write an article about one of the subjects above i.e. check under βwhat to write aboutβ section. You can also share it with us using Google Docs or any text editor. 700β1200 words is a great range.
For articles submitted on Google Docs, we will lightly edit for clarity while keeping your voice intact.
Publish it on a recognized platform (ie. Linkedin, medium, substack etc). Further share it on Linkedin or X tagging FOASE and #ALX_SE.
Once we approve, your article goes live on Substack and FOASE channels. Youβll get a link to share!
βπΎ Contributor Tips
Be yourself β your unique story is what matters
Write like you talk β keep it simple and real
Add visuals β screenshots, photos, or project links
No pressure to be perfect β honest beats polished
π¬ Questions? Want to Pitch?
Weβd love to hear from you!
π§ Email us at: [facesofalxse@alxafrica.com]
π¬ Or DM us on our Faces of ALX SE social media handles or Irene Aragona on Discord
π Weβre excited to hear your story β and so is the community.
You never know who youβll inspire.
My ALX Journey: A Story of Resilience and Growth
It has been a long and emotional journey, filled with countless ups and downs. It all began on February 20, 2022. Back then, I had never even heard of ALX. I was part of a 10-member team, and they recommended that I apply. They encouraged me to take the leapβand I did.
When I first looked into ALX and saw the commitment it requiredβ70 hours per weekβI hesitated. I told my friends I wasnβt sure I could dedicate that much time. But they continued to support and motivate me. Eventually, I applied and started the program.
At first, I made a big mistake: I tried to get by by copying and pasting solutions from YouTube videos. This approach backfired. I missed the first monthβs deadline and only scored 50%. But even then, I gained something far more valuableβknowledge and exposure to things I had never heard of before. I began to feel the real value of this journey.
Unfortunately, I faced a tough period in my personal life. Over the next six months, I experienced multiple breakdowns and had to defer. But I never forgot about ALX. One day, an old friend reached out and told me he was starting over again. That inspired me. I decided to return and give it another shot.
By that time, all 10 of my original teammates had dropped out. But I had already tasted the value of ALX, and I wouldnβt stop. I realized something important: no one will stand with you forever, except God and yourself.
Thanks to an incredible team that I now consider family, I powered through the next six months in one go. Then, after a one-month breakdown and another deferral (C20), I completed another six-month sprint.
Alhamdulillah, Iβm here nowβgrateful and proud. Iβve just landed my second freelance job as a full-stack developer. I owe a huge part of this growth to the ALX SE and ALX AI Starter Kit Program. It didnβt just help me learnβit transformed me and strengthened my presence as a software engineer.
Thank you, ALX. β€οΈ