From Hesitation to Confidence: My Internship Journey

From YouTuber Dreams to Coding Reality: My Journey into Tech

Before I even considered coding seriously, I tried my hand at many things. I dreamt of becoming a YouTuber, learned backflips and parkour (which ended in a broken thumb), and went through various hobbies, none of which lasted long enough to turn into a career.

But these experiences weren’t wasted — each one taught me something valuable. I even tried pen spinning and magic, fascinated by the idea of impressing others. While those things didn’t stick, the excitement of learning new skills and pushing my limits always kept me going.

After working for a year post-high school and eventually dropping out of university in my second year, I decided to give coding a shot, encouraged by my brother. One day, he told me about a software development internship opportunity he came across online, and he encouraged me to apply. At first, I thought coding was too complex and stressful for me. I studied online to prepare, but honestly, nothing really stuck in my head. Despite learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it felt like all the information just went over my head.

So, when I started my internship, I felt like I knew nothing. But instead of letting that discourage me, I embraced it as part of the learning process. This is where my real coding journey began.

Day One: Nerves and New Beginnings

On my first day, I was nervous — really nervous. I remember getting lost three times on my way to the Academy. But once I arrived, the warmth and encouragement from everyone made me feel at ease. I quickly realized that everyone had started somewhere, and that my nervousness was just part of the process. The first day was all about settling in, and I was ready to dive into the learning ahead.

Learning the Basics: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

As I settled into my role, I focused on strengthening my foundation in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Initially, I was overwhelmed, especially when faced with real-world challenges. But the more I worked through issues and built projects, the clearer things became. Each task I completed reinforced the skills I was building, and seeing my code come to life in a real project made all the frustration worth it.

Teamwork and Networking: Making Valuable Connections

One of the best parts of my internship was the people I met. Working alongside experienced developers, I was able to ask questions and learn from their expertise. Networking with fellow interns and team members opened my eyes to the importance of collaboration in the tech industry. The friendships I made and the advice I received will stay with me as I continue to build my career in tech.

The Big Challenge: Building a Restaurant Reservation Site

The highlight of my internship was the final project: building a restaurant reservation website. It was both challenging and rewarding. I was tasked with designing the user interface and developing the functionality for the site. It required everything I had learned — HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — all while managing deadlines and collaborating with my team. The moment we finished the project and saw it work seamlessly was one of the most satisfying moments of my internship.

Gaining Confidence and Moving Forward

Looking back on the internship, I can see just how far I’ve come. I went from feeling overwhelmed and unsure of my skills to being confident in my ability to tackle complex tasks. My experience not only improved my technical skills but also taught me the value of teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving. I’ve learned more than just coding during this internship; I’ve learned how to thrive in a real-world tech environment.

Conclusion: Ready for the Next Chapter

As my internship came to an end, I felt both proud of what I had accomplished and excited for what’s next. This experience solidified my passion for coding and gave me the confidence to continue pursuing a career in tech. I know there are many challenges ahead, but I’m ready to tackle them. The internship was just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

If you want to know more about how I ended up on this path and how coding became my choice, check out my previous blog post here.

Share Your Story!

Everyone has a unique journey into coding, and I’d love to hear yours! How did you get started? What challenges did you face in the beginning? Drop a comment below and let’s connect. 🚀

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