How I Became LDCE's First AWS Student Builder Group Leader — And What No One Told Me About the Journey
Getting selected as an AWS Student Builder Group Leader taught me that community doesn't build itself — and that sometimes, you just have to be the one who starts it.
I am Manas Makwana, a fourth-year Computer Engineering student at L.D. College of Engineering (LDCE), Ahmedabad. At the beginning of 2026, cloud computing was simply another technology domain that I wanted to explore. Like many students, I had heard terms like "AWS," "Cloud," and "DevOps" countless times, but I had never truly understood the scale of opportunities they created.
That changed in January 2026.
As I started learning more about AWS and cloud technologies, I realized something important: technology isn't just consumed by students — it is built by communities of people who learn, share, and grow together.
That realization eventually led me to one of the most exciting opportunities of my engineering journey.
Who I Was Before I Applied
Honest answer? I was a student who knew enough to be curious but not enough to be confident.
I had explored different technologies, built projects, participated in technical communities, and constantly searched for opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. But when it came to cloud computing, I often felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of services, concepts, and learning paths available.
At LDCE, there wasn't a dedicated student community focused specifically on AWS and cloud technologies.
Students interested in cloud had to figure things out independently — watching videos, reading documentation, experimenting with services, and learning through trial and error.
I was doing exactly that.
When I first came across the AWS Student Builder Group Leader program, my immediate thought was:
"This is probably meant for someone more experienced than me."
But another thought quickly followed:
"If not me, then who is going to build this community at LDCE?"
That question changed everything.
The Application Process: What It Actually Felt Like
The application process challenged me in ways I didn't expect.
It wasn't only about technical skills or certifications.
It asked bigger questions:
- What community do you want to build?
- Why does your campus need it?
- How will you help other students grow?
For the first time, I wasn't thinking only about my own learning journey.
I was thinking about creating opportunities for hundreds of students who might be standing exactly where I had stood only a few months earlier — curious about cloud, but unsure where to begin.
I realized that I wasn't applying to organize events.
I was applying to build the kind of community I wish had existed when I started learning AWS.
The Day Everything Changed
A few weeks later, I received an email that I will remember for a very long time.
I had been selected as an AWS Student Builder Group Leader.
I read the email more than once before it truly sank in.
Excitement.
Gratitude.
Responsibility.
Those were probably the three emotions I felt most strongly in that moment.
But there was another realization that made this opportunity even more meaningful:
I wasn't just becoming an AWS Student Builder Group Leader.
I was becoming the founding AWS Student Builder Group Leader at L.D. College of Engineering.
The first one.
There was no previous chapter to learn from.
No handbook written by seniors.
No roadmap to follow.
For a brief moment, that felt intimidating.
Then it became exciting.
Building Something That Didn't Exist Before
Starting the first AWS Student Builder Group chapter at LDCE means building a community from the ground up.
And that's exactly what excites me the most.
Together with our core team, we want to create a space where students can explore cloud technologies, learn practical skills, collaborate with peers, and connect with industry professionals.
Our goal is simple:
To make cloud learning more accessible, practical, and community-driven for every student at LDCE.
What We Plan To Build
Over the coming months, we are planning to organize:
- Orientation sessions introducing students to AWS and cloud computing.
- Expert talks and industry webinars with professionals from the cloud ecosystem.
- Hands-on workshops and technical sessions focused on practical learning.
- Hackathons and challenges that encourage innovation and collaboration.
- Real-world projects and community initiatives that help students gain practical experience.
- Networking opportunities that connect students with peers, mentors, and industry experts.
We want students to leave our events not only with knowledge, but with confidence.
What AWS Student Builder Group Has Already Taught Me
One of the biggest lessons I've learned so far is that communities do not build themselves.
Communities are built by people who are willing to take the first step.
The AWS Student Builder Group program is not just about learning cloud technologies.
It is about leadership.
It is about creating opportunities.
And most importantly, it is about helping others grow while growing yourself.
What I Would Tell Future Applicants
If you're considering applying for the AWS Student Builder Group program, here are three things I would tell you:
First: You do not need to know everything before you apply.
Second: The value of this program goes far beyond technical resources and certifications. The people, connections, and experiences become equally valuable.
Third: Apply not only for yourself, but for your community.
You might be surprised by how many students are waiting for exactly the kind of community you can help create.
They simply need someone willing to start.
I am grateful that I decided to take that first step.
And this is only the beginning.
Manas Makwana is a fourth-year Computer Engineering student at L.D. College of Engineering (LDCE), Ahmedabad, and the founding AWS Student Builder Group Leader at the institution. He is passionate about cloud computing, community building, and creating opportunities that help students learn, build, and grow together through technology.
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