On November 7, 2025, I had the opportunity to join an online meeting with three core members of the ESA Pyxel teamāan experience that was exciting, nerve-wracking, and deeply meaningful in ways Iām still processing.
Before the Meeting
I had been working on a personal project called Pyxel Config Lab, a GUI tool I designed to simplify creating YAML configurations for Pyxel. My background isn’t in physics or chemistry, Iām not a scientist. I donāt hold a masterās degree or a PhD. What I do have is a strong IT background, a love for space, a passion for art and tech, and a deep desire to contribute something useful.
I joined this meeting knowing that everyone on the other side had advanced academic credentials. And there I was self-taught, with only a high school diploma, holding a tool built out of passion and curiosity. I felt small. But I also knew I was enough. I reminded myself that open source is about sharing, not proving.
The Meeting
The meeting lasted around 45 minutes. It began with introductions, and yes, it was serious in tone. The team asked thoughtful questionsāabout where I get my information from, how I test things, and what inspired me to build Pyxel Config Lab. I answered honestly: I read as much as I can, I experiment, and I learn by doing. This is my way of life - endless learning.
To my surprise and relief, they werenāt testing me. They truly wanted to understand my tool and vision. They acknowledged the work Iāve done so far and encouraged me to continue contributing. They even expressed interest in integrating Pyxel Config Lab into Jupyter notebooks to make it more accessible to researchers. That felt huge.
My Reflections
Even though they were kind and respectful, their professionalism and academic background made me feel anxious at times. I had trouble interpreting their tone, and that left me unsure of whether I made a good impression. But I reminded myself: they invited me. They didnāt have to. They chose to meet with me, talk with me, and now continue working with me.
They treated me like a peer, even if I sometimes still struggle to believe thatās what I am. And thatās where the beauty of open source shines: thereās room for artists, coders, scientists, and curious minds of all kinds.
Closing Thoughts
This meeting didnāt erase my self-doubtābut it did soften it. It reminded me that contribution doesnāt require perfection. It requires presence. It requires care.
If youāre out there feeling like youāre not enough to be in the room, remember this: you belong in the rooms where you bring something thoughtful, even if your path there was different.
Iām thankful to the ESA Pyxel team for taking me seriously, not despite who I am, but because of it.
And Iāll keep building, learning, and sharing.
Because thatās what I love to do. āØš¦