Why Challenges Are Just As Valuable As Successes

As the summer winds down and the next semester of school quickly approaches, I can’t help but reflect on all of the invaluable experiences and all of the technical skills and concepts I’ve learned over the past 10 weeks interning at Millennial Software. I want to give a big shout out to Matt and Maggie, who have guided me through the whole internship process and couldn’t be more grateful for their mentorship and help. When I began my internship, I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting. I was nervous but eager to learn. I was met with a dynamic environment that constantly challenged me and put me outside my comfort zone. 

I was assigned a project revolving around satellite propagations and tracking. To be honest, I was initially overwhelmed by the complexity of the project.

However, I discovered that by utilizing a methodical approach and breaking the project down into smaller parts, I could not only meet requirements but also create a product I could take pride in showcasing to the company. Throughout the development process, the ability to learn on the go became a powerful tool that pushed me to think critically, especially when tackling challenging problems that arose along the way. 

Looking back at the project's inception, I realize how much I've grown in terms of technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.

If you had asked me about APIs at the beginning of the internship, I would have been at a loss for words. Now, I've successfully implemented a REST API architecture style, which became the backbone of my project's functionality. I've had the privilege of delving into a multitude of concepts and technologies. My understanding of SQL has deepened, and I've used it to manage and manipulate data effectively. Flask aided me in creating a streamlined and responsive web application, while Docker and Kubernetes have opened doors to the world of containerization and scalable deployment. 

Recently, the culmination of my efforts came to an exciting point when I had the opportunity to put my application to the test using a Celestron telescope to collect data.

I was joined by my co-workers Maggie, Matt, Tim, and Kyle to show off my summer’s work. However, as is often the case with initial tests, the data collection didn’t go as planned. The setback was a reminder that trial and error is the name of the game when it comes to being an engineer and you’ll rarely ever get it right on the first try. 

In retrospect, the challenges and obstacles I encountered during this internship have been just as valuable as the successes.

Each roadblock provided an opportunity to learn, adapt, and come up with creative solutions. The camaraderie I shared with my co-workers over the last 10 weeks was a great experience and their insights and encouragement reaffirmed that setbacks are temporary and any problem is able to be solved. I want to give a big thanks again to everyone who I’ve worked and interacted with at Millennial Software and who’ve provided me with this opportunity and experience.