Getting a foot in the door

I'm a pretty new programmer-about halfway through Sweigart's new book on Python and Cryptography. My question is, when the hell do I get to DO something? I can go through exercises and analyze how different cipher programs are written, but I'm really yearning to actually create or contribute to something. Any input?

>>19
If you still think github is an appropriate outlet for the publication of your original cryptographic material, you are not ready to contribute to shit. You publish a paper and the accompanying code on the side, not the other way around.