Path to become a professional

Hello,
I know C/C++ as a beginner, but have wish to be a C++ professional.
Now i am working as a junior Java programmer, but desire a C/C++ job, especially using C/C++ on network programming.
As a path somebody told me to read books, i have read Deitel's so far but i do not think it is a good path, i think experience is the most valuable one.
As a path, I thought to contribute an open source library, and thus gain experience by this way. But i can not decide which library contribute and i do not have the courage to contribute as a beginner.
Could you advise some path related to contributing or some unrelated path.
Thanks for reading.
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