Some moments in life make you pause and think about how it all began. Sitting on my flight home from Singapore, still buzzing from an incredible experience at DrupalCon, I found myself tracing back the steps that led me there.
It’s funny how things unfold.
In 2021, fresh out of college, I joined QED42 as an engineering intern. I had heard of Drupal but barely knew anything about it. If I’m honest, I was a little nervous—new job, new technology, new world. But curiosity has a way of keeping you going. I dived into the work, slowly unravelling the power of this open-source CMS that runs websites across the globe.
And then, I found something even better—the Drupal Pune community.
There’s something special about being surrounded by people who genuinely want to help each other grow. The meetups, the discussions, the encouragement—it all shaped my journey in ways I hadn’t imagined. It became more than just learning Drupal—it was about belonging to something bigger. The support from QED42, combined with the community’s encouragement, set everything in motion.
First, let me share some highlights from DrupalCon 2024—then I'll share how I made it happen.
DrupalCon Singapore 2024
This was a surreal experience, packed with everything I love—tech, conversations, food, and the thrill of being in a new city with like-minded people.
Highlights:
- Two days of sessions that left my brain overflowing with technical takeaways.
- A casual chat with Dries about photography—though I might have tested his patience with my enthusiasm.
- The food? Great. The desserts? Even better.
- Wandering through the streets of Singapore with fellow community members, soaking in the city's energy and making memories along the way.
- A major highlight? QED42 won the Splash Award! A moment of pride, excitement, and a sense of being part of something truly remarkable.
- And of course, we wrapped it all up with a short, loud, and unforgettable party.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this—sometimes, all it takes is a bit of curiosity, a great community, and the willingness to take that first step. The rest? It finds its way. Now let me take you through the journey that made this happen.
(Left) Holding the Splash Award won by QED42 for our work with Diabetes.org (Right) QED42 team at DrupalCon Singapore.
Getting started with Drupal Pune
August 2021. I started my internship at QED42, and Drupal was everywhere. Projects, open-source, blogs—it wasn’t just another tech stack; it felt like this whole new culture. People spoke about it with a kind of energy that felt different. At first, I was just going through the motions, trying to keep up. But I could tell there was something more to it.
Then came DrupalCamp Pune, March 2022—my first in-person event.
Walking into that room, I knew this was where things would change. The energy was real. Conversations weren’t just technical; they were passionate. People debated modules like they were life choices, joked about content types, and shared insights like they had been waiting all year for this moment.
One session on Drupal’s caching system hit me hard. It was practical, useful, the kind of thing that makes you rethink how you approach development. By the time it ended, I was thinking differently. That session was a turning point.
After the sessions, I joined conversations about Drupal 10 and the future of open source. And this time, I had something to say.
In the months that followed, I kept showing up. Meetups, discussions, late-night Slack threads. The more I engaged, the more I realized—Drupal is about building, learning, and growing with a community that actually cared.
(Left) Drupal Camp Pune group picture (Right) Presenting a session at the monthly Drupal Pune Meetup.
At first, I was just another face in the crowd—listening, learning, absorbing everything I could. By 2023, I wanted to contribute, to be part of what made this community thrive.
Volunteering at DrupalCamp Pune 2023 was my first real step in that direction. I started at the registration booth, expecting a simple task—handing out badges, directing people, and helping with logistics. But it turned into something more. I found myself in conversations with first-time attendees, answering questions, and sharing my own experiences. In the same way, Drupal Pune had once welcomed me, I was now helping others find their place. That sense of connection—that feeling of belonging—was something I hadn’t expected, but it stuck with me.
Soon after, I took on something that had once felt completely out of reach: presenting at the monthly Drupal Pune meetups.
The first time was overwhelming, standing in front of a room filled with experienced developers, and sharing my own insights, I questioned whether I had anything valuable to say.
But the moment I started speaking, I saw the same curiosity in their eyes that I had felt during my first sessions. The conversations that followed, the questions, the discussions—it made me realize something important.
It was about growing with the community, about sharing what I had learned so someone else could take their next step, just like I had.
Those sessions improved my public speaking. They made me an active part of the space that shaped me—and still does.
Drupal Pune members planning Drupal Camp Pune 2024 at the February meetup.
Presenting a session on Transform API at Drupal Pune’s monthly meetup.
A dream came true – winning a ticket to DrupalCon Singapore!
By 2023, I was part of what made Drupal Pune events happen. Presenting at meetups, volunteering at DrupalCamp Pune 2023, and working on a headless Drupal project—each step deepened my connection with the community.
(Left) Drupal Pune monthly meetup at QED42 office (Right) Presenting a session on Headless Drupal at PHP Camp 2024.
In 2024, I wanted to push further. This time at DrupalCamp Pune, I took on a new role—photographer. Capturing the energy of the event felt different, like seeing the community from a whole new perspective.
(Left) Drupal Pune group photo in March 2023 (Right) As a photographer at Drupal Camp Pune 2024.
Some clicks from Drupal Camp Pune.
During the camp, I joined a community-led contest, thinking it would be fun. I didn’t expect to win. But when my name was announced as the recipient of a ticket to DrupalCon Singapore 2024, it felt like everything I had worked toward had led to this.
It was a celebration of the experiences, contributions, and connections that shaped my journey. And it left me even more excited for what’s ahead.
Attending DrupalCon Singapore 2024
On December 8, 2024, a bunch of us from work hopped on a flight to Singapore.
It was my first international trip, and I could barely contain the excitement. I’d only seen Singapore in movies, and in just a few hours, I was about to experience it for real.
Attending DrupalCon Singapore felt like a dream. – sessions, contributions, and an unforgettable experience
The first two days of DrupalCon Singapore were a whirlwind of sessions, discussions, and some seriously good food.
(Left) At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (Right) QED42 won the Splash Award for our work with Diabetes.org in the Non-Profit category.
Some of the sessions that stood out for me:
Server-side rendering a Drupal site with Next.js
Since I work extensively with Headless Drupal, this session felt like it was made for me. It covered both core concepts and the latest Next.js features, making it a solid learning experience.
DriesNote – The MAIN event!
Dries Buytaert himself took the stage to present the much-awaited DriesNote, focusing on the recent updates in Drupal CMS (Starshot). Watching it live, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much Drupal has evolved since I first started working with Drupal 9 during my internship.
The CMS has transformed into a smoother, more intuitive experience, making everything feel new again.
After DriesNote, it was time for the legendary group photo—and I was in it!
Other sessions I attended:
Building the Future of Drupal: 11, 12, and Starshot
Level Up Your Impact: Building Socially-Driven Projects with Drupal as a Digital Public Good
What, Why, and When for Recipes & Distributions with Starshot
Day 3: The contribution sprint was a surreal experience. Developers, initiative track leads, and community members gathered to tackle open-source issues, strategic initiatives, and code contributions.
I contributed to the Experience Builder Initiative (XB) and had a great discussion with Lauri, the track lead. I also got to see Jess (xjm) in action as she demonstrated how contributor credits are distributed while solving an active issue.
Sitting in a room full of Drupalers working together on something bigger than themselves was a powerful moment. It reminded me why communities like Drupal Pune and events like DrupalCon matter so much. They go beyond coding—they’re about connection, growth, and collective success.
After the contribution day, we wrapped up the trip with some sightseeing in Singapore—a perfect way to celebrate an unforgettable experience.
(Left) View from the top of Marina Bay Sands (Right) Photo with Drupal community members.
(Left) An evening stroll at Fullerton Pavilion (Right) At Sentosa Island with QED42 folks.
Final thoughts and stepping out of my comfort zone
Well, to sum up, a long story about an internship, a community, and a ticket to DrupalCon—every milestone, from volunteering to presenting and attending, pushed me beyond my comfort zone. I’ve always been more of an introvert, but being part of Drupal Pune changed that.
The support, encouragement, and shared passion helped me embrace new challenges and grow in ways I never expected. Looking back, joining Drupal Pune was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It opened doors I never saw coming, introduced me to incredible people, and helped me recognize my potential.
Whether you’re just starting with Drupal (or any other tech) or have years of experience, being an active part of a community can change everything. For me, it turned a growing interest into an unforgettable journey to one of the biggest Drupal events in the world.
You never know where one little step in the right direction might take you. For me, it led to growth, friendships, a ticket to DrupalCon, and so much more that words can't capture. Truly, if you're on the fence about joining a tech community, I’d say just go for it.