Three months. Four interns. Many lessons learned.
Before our budding apprentice engineers left for their respective campuses, we asked each of them to answer one simple question:
What is something you learned that you didn’t know prior to your internship at Uplift?
Self discovery & path to programming
Julia Young, Iowa State University
I feel so much more confident as I head back to school and into my career because of the important skills Uplift has taught me!
After finishing my first year in college, I knew I loved to code. However I had no idea what that looked like in a job, what type of jobs there are, or what type of coding I even wanted to do.
After this internship, I have a much better idea of what my life might actually look like in this exciting field, and I learned a lot about myself as a programmer in the process.
I also learned about the entire process of taking a product from the idea stages into development, and then sending it out for users to experience!
I’ve gained experience in backend, frontend, and server skills that have given me a well-rounded look into the software development world.
I feel so much more confident as I head back to school and into my career because of the important skills Uplift has taught me!
International student finds growth, community
Rodolfo Gonzalez Rivera, Grinnell College
From Day One at Uplift, I felt embraced by a community that was … genuinely invested in my growth.
Starting my first US-based software internship, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Being an international student brings its own set of uncertainties.
However, from Day One at Uplift, I felt embraced by a community that was not only talented but genuinely invested in my growth. This supportive environment made all the difference, ensuring that my journey was one of learning and genuine connection.
Beyond the expansive technical skills I garnered over my 9-week experience, my most cherished takeaway is the importance of being in a workplace that values personal growth. At Uplift, I felt a deep connection to the company's vision and was treated as a vital asset.
The leadership's investment in my development was evident daily. My advice to others? Seek out workplaces that prioritize your growth and well-being. Never settle for less.
Learning teamwork and tech skills
Barbara Vrhovac, Drake University
It was beneficial to see how the whole team works on problem solving together.
The most valuable thing that I have learned during this internship would have to be the way that the whole team works toward delivering a software product to the client.
Before this internship, I didn’t have much experience with software engineering and how it works on a team of people. It was beneficial to see how the team divides work and decides on what each person is going to do, how pair programming works in real life, and how the whole team works on problem solving together.
Besides that, it was very useful to gain exposure to the .Net framework and React library, and see how both are implemented in backend and front end development. I was also exposed to test-driven development, which I was not familiar with before.
Expanded skills in software development
Jeffrey Roberts, Simpson College
Most importantly I learned how a whole team should work together to deliver a software product for a client.
Before my internship at Uplift Delivery, I had little to no experience in software development. During my three months as an intern, I gained hands-on experience in full-stack development, developing web and mobile applications for a healthcare startup, while taking part in Agile ceremonies.
During my limited time, I was exposed to many frameworks and tools that have furthered my interest and learning in software development. I utilized the .NET framework for backend development and React, React Native libraries for front end development for both web and mobile applications.
In addition, I was taught core software development practices, such as test-driven development and exposed to standard programming patterns that will prove beneficial for future careers.
Most importantly I learned how a whole team should work together to deliver a software product for a client.