Have you ever been to an Indigitous #HACK event? I first became involved with Indigitous by attending a #HACK event in the Philippines back in 2015. I wasn’t there as a participant but rather as someone to write about it.
Two years later, I was back, but this time as a “chaperone” to the college kids who joined from our region. While those two hackathons differed, with the first one being simpler and more intimate, both showed how powerful it can be to come together to take the gospel to new people, places, and spaces.
Speaking of people, meeting new friends is another opportunity #HACK provides. We get to share life with different individuals during our time working together. We hear each other’s stories, get inspired, and, let’s be honest, even test our patience with our differences, especially with those almost sleepless nights. Of course, we also learn from each other.
#HACK brings people with the same mission mindset but different personalities, perspectives, and backgrounds. If it’s your first time attending one, here are ten types of people you’ll likely meet at this coming #HACK2024.
#HACK brings people with the same mission mindset but different personalities, perspectives, and backgrounds.
1. The Bug Buster / The Problem Solver / The #HACK Knight
Bugs—they never miss. Just when you think all is well, a problem arises with your program or presentation. This is where a Bug Buster —also known as the Problem Solver—comes in.
As a persistent problem solver, this person skillfully identifies, diagnoses, and fixes bugs before your team presents the project. And just when you think this team member is exclusively for fixing software issues, think again. At one point, you’ll see him fixing seemingly trivial matters like a broken chair, creating a space for a power nap, being the first to help refill the water dispenser, and so on. He’s sometimes so helpful that he even assists people from different teams—but not directly on their projects—don’t push it.
2. The Networker / Your Friendly Next-Table Neighbor
#HACK is one of the best events for meeting new friends with the same passion for digital missions as you. But if you’re having trouble making friends, never fear. There’s always that one person who seems to know everyone there (including the organizers). You’ll find yourself being befriended even if you haven’t approached anyone yet.
Whether the Networker is an extrovert who loves being around people or an introvert who is skilled at small talk and one-on-one discussions, she never fails to thrive at connecting with others. She possesses strong communication skills, is proactive in expanding her network, and most importantly, is a good supporter and connector of people.
3. The Creative Soul / The Brainstorming Guru
This is a creative person who likes thinking of ideas outside of the box. They are the innovators and problem solvers with solutions no one has thought of. You would be enamored by how they would present details to the team.
The Creative Souls are people you meet in #HACK who are inspirational, resourceful, and reflective. They communicate their ideas through writing and design, and explore other concepts passionately. They love to be on the whiteboard, mapping out concepts, sharing solutions, and so on. Sometimes, you’d even find them with calligraphy pens, markers, and even their handy-dandy notepads in their bag of #HACK arsenal.
4. The Jack-of-All-Trades / The All-Rounder
There’s always one participant in every #HACK who’s good at everything (and if not, at least most of the skills needed by a team). She can write the script for a video, provide ideas to create a storyboard, and, in some special cases, even code or at least understand it.
The Jack-of-All-Trades is versatile and adaptive. They are quick learners, too. This makes #HACK a great way for them to learn something new.
5. The Night Owl / The Nocturnal Buddy
Since #HACK is usually a two-day and two-night thing, it’s no surprise to find night owls flocking to the room.
The Night Owls thrive during the late evening hours since it’s their peak time for productivity. They are more focused at work while others sleep and can work passionately on tight deadlines. But when breakfast calls are up in the morning, you’ll find them dead asleep on a couch with their hoodie jackets draped over their heads. It’s lucky if you find them fully up for coffee and eggs during breakfast.
6. The Sparkling Rookie / The Excited Newbie / The New Kid On the Block
A radiant of energy and a source of fresh ideas, the sparkling rookie brings a bright energy to #HACK. This participant can either be a college student who just wants exposure and learning or a professional who’s excited to finally meet like-minded individuals like her.
As a newbie, the Sparkling Rookie is a great team member with a desire to grow and evolve through the hackathon experience. He listens intently, look up to his older and more experienced teammates, and has an encouraging “can-do” spirit. In some instances, this rookie is even pulled to the corner of the room for a video interview. He just sparkles!
7. The Captain Crunch / The Mothering Manager
With such a short time to complete the work, everyone is in a tight crunch. This is where a project manager comes in. Armed with their organizing skills, attention to detail, and even foresight, they navigate the team to a successful #HACK experience.
As a project manager, she keeps the team moving by expertly getting the team involved in resolving complex issues, ensuring everyone is aligned, and motivating the team. She is the team’s “mother hen”—giving support where needed, ensuring each member has eaten, serving coffee to the night owls, and even asking for items the team needs.
8. The One-Night Wanderer / The Visiting Team Member
As the name suggests, this participant, despite registering for the whole #HACK event, attends after the opening program, enters a certain group, and leaves the next day. He joins a team, gets involved in the first night’s creation process, and disappears later on, never to return even after promising to come back.
Despite the short stay, this person brings a brief yet impactful impression to a team. He can integrate himself into a team even after everyone has already grouped themselves and dive immediately into the task. Because of his sharp focus, he provides valuable support and more.
Despite only staying for one night, the One-Night Wanderers don’t mean to disappear. They are usually there to support the event, try out the event, or just really want to participate, but they had to go because of some immediate concerns that arose during their stay.
9. The DJ / The Designated Spotifyer
Just like in any group setting, there’s always this one person armed with their trusty playlist. The designated DJ or Spotifyer plays the music to set the mood for the team. For #HACK, however, we would usually find this from the event’s team.
The designated DJ is someone who plays music to boost people’s spirit. Imagine having little sleep during the two nights, plus people working together for the first time. The DJ would usually be the one person who takes the time to ask people how they are and take in every detail of the environment. They know when people need an energizer. This person is caring and would play music as a temporary relief to all the stress people are experiencing. Sometimes, this person would even accept requests from participants in the room.
10. The Mission Field | The Lost
While #HACK is for Christians, there are times we are grouped with someone whose reason for joining the #HACK is anything but sharing the gospel.
We often refer to the word “mission field” as the place where we go and do missions. However, with #HACK Philippines, there was one notable instance where a participant was a nonbeliever. This was a moment when Christian participants were reminded why we innovate, strategize, and create for the mission. If #HACK is to bring the gospel to new people, places, and spaces, then sharing who Jesus is with this nonbeliever is a priority.
Though a rare occurrence, we must be on the lookout for this person. This is an opportunity to put into practice what we set out to do in a #HACK event.
#HACK is one of the best opportunities to be part of missions. We may not be in the field (or perhaps, like our number 10, the event becomes a mission field), there’s no denying how joining can be a great reminder of what Jesus can do through each of us. It’s a great time for fellowship through sharing ideas, working on projects, and drinking coffee.
These are just ten of the people we’d usually meet in #HACK. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more, but for now, perhaps you can share which one resonates with you more or what other types of people you have encountered during #HACK.