One thing is certain: an internship at P3+Uplift is unlike any other.
From learning the basics of C# as well as BrainHole to deploying an Azure Native stack with Pulumi alongside Slarry the office Sloth, our crop of interns got a unique look at software engineering.
Before heading back to campus, we had Khanh Phuong Do & Julian Kim recount their summer experience.
A Transformative, Technological Journey
Khanh Phuong Do, Grinnell College - Sophomore
What is something you learned that you didn’t know prior to your internship at P3+Uplift?
My 9-week internship felt like a year—not because it was long, but because I learned so much. Every day, I faced new challenges and collaborated with my co-intern and other engineers to overcome them.
Before the internship, I had limited coding experience from my introductory class at college, and I had no idea how web development worked, how teams collaborated to create products, or what corporate life was like.
I gained insight from experienced engineers about their thought processes, problem-solving approaches, and decision-making.
At P3+Uplift, I experienced all of this. I worked on both front-end and back-end development, from server and storage to automated build pipelines. I also learned rigorous and effective testing methods and improved my problem-solving skills through coding.
I helped complete a web application that will no doubt add value to our company's work culture. I also gained insight from experienced engineers about their thought processes, problem-solving approaches, and decision-making.
Aside from enhancing my technical skills, I participated in Agile meetings, sat in client demos, played ‘Guess the Continent’ with Eric and Meridith, had Slarry the Sloth as my pair partner for a day, laughed at the memes Natalie and others sent in ‘Mandated Joy’ channel, and was allowed to work remotely for a week to spend time with my mom, whom I haven’t seen for a year.
This summer was packed with new knowledge, connections, and experiences that I am immensely appreciative of and grateful for.
How will the internship propel you in your studies as you prepare for your future career?
Having gained a well-rounded experience in developing and improving a quality web application, I am now much more informed and excited to return to my studies.
This internship with P3+Uplift has set my perspective and standards for what I seek in my future career, including the types of technologies, mentorship, and office culture that suit me best.
The debugging, researching, and problem-solving skills I learned during my internship will be invaluable for my personal projects and academic studies. Next semester, I have a research position developing a Unity game in C#. The experience I gained with C# on the Question Board project will be incredibly helpful.
My internship with P3+Uplift is my first-ever professional experience and I’m confident that it would propel me further along on my journey to break into software engineering.
This internship with P3+Uplift has set my perspective and standards for what I seek in my future career, including the types of technologies, mentorship, and office culture that suit me best.
Real-World Skills and Career Growth
Julian Kim, Grinnell College – Junior
What is something you learned that you didn’t know prior to your internship at P3+Uplift?
This internship at P3+Uplift has been an incredible learning experience, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity you all have given me this summer!
Working professionally in this field has been a completely different and far more rewarding experience than I initially imagined.
One of the most valuable things I've gained is real-world experience as a software engineer. While I had some prior coding experience as a hobby, working professionally in this field has been a completely different and far more rewarding experience than I initially imagined. The process of turning ideas into reality has definitely been a highlight of my summer.
Throughout this internship, I've acquired a wide array of skills and technologies that were entirely new to me. For example, I've learned how to integrate GraphQL across an entire stack, transform Figma designs into functional React UIs, and utilize various Microsoft Azure cloud platform products.
I've also gained experience in deploying an Azure Native stack with Pulumi, all while practicing test-driven development. The support and guidance from everyone at Uplift have been instrumental in my growth as an engineer, and I'm deeply appreciative of their help.
Overall, this internship has opened my eyes to a future career in software engineering and has equipped me with valuable tools and knowledge that I didn't possess before. It's been an incredibly satisfying and enriching experience!
How will the internship propel you in your studies as you prepare for your future career?
As I enter the second half of my college career, I'm focused on exploring two main paths: software engineering and graduate studies in computer science.
This internship has definitely convinced me that I would greatly enjoy a career in software engineering! Moreover, it has significantly boosted my professional development and provided excellent networking opportunities. I now feel I have a much stronger foothold in the software engineering field than before.
Most importantly, this internship has given me the tools and confidence to explore the unknown!
I believe this internship has also equipped me with many transferable skills that will be valuable if I pursue graduate studies in computer science. It has taught me the conditions under which I learn most effectively and how to seek help when needed. Most importantly, it has given me the tools and confidence to explore the unknown!
I'm excited to apply these skills next year when I study abroad at the Aquincum Institute of Technology in Budapest, Hungary. There, I'll be delving into theory of computation, algorithms and data structures, mobile software development, computer graphics, and more.
The experience and knowledge gained from this internship will undoubtedly enhance my ability to tackle these challenging subjects and make the most of this unique educational opportunity.
Comments