http://www.wycliffeassociates.org/

Wycliffe Associates

Full Stack Intern

June - August 2018 • Orlando, FL

What I liked

The people! Everyone was so kind!

What I wish was different

A lot of the work was just googling syntax

Advice

Always make sure the people in your workplace are kind--it makes such a great day when they are!
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8 Weeks of Code Intern

June - August 2018 • Orlando, FL

What I liked

I loved working somewhere that had a goal my own interests were so aligned with; how many software developers can say they're directly helping advance the gospel? At WA, I worked directly with 7 other college-age interns developing translation software, specifically for translating the Bible into primarily oral languages. I loved the format of the internship--it was VERY focused on helping us learn and form good development practices. We had guest mentors come in every week and a half, we had experienced people in the industry to ask questions at any time, and they structured the project so that we, the students, were the organizers and the driving force behind the process once we were caught up to speed on what we were doing. We learned so many things: cooperative version control, the Kotlin language, how to work with libraries, and a lot of other technobabble that I could go into if anyone was curious. :) Above all, though, I loved that the environment of the internship was focused on learning and not on just getting a project done. The people at WA cared about helping us grow far more than they cared about the software itself; I can only hope I get to work in an environment half as supportive as that again! The internship also took us interns on trips to explore the Florida area every weekend; we went to Disney Springs, nature parks, canoeing, different sports activities, and so many other things specific to the Florida area. It was a real blessing to experience how well thought-out the activities were; it wasn't just about getting kids to code for them, it was about teaching us and giving us an experience to benefit from.

What I wish was different

I do wish that we had better prepared for when certain tasks were finished before the deadline. I ended up stuck without much to do towards the middle of the internship, and it was very frustrating to feel like I wasn't pulling my own weight but that there wasn't much I could do about it. It got easier towards the end to find other tasks to do, and I know that if I'd stayed longer I would have gotten more and more effective at planning our deadlines and tasks to complete with my team in a wya that prevented that problem form happening again.

Advice

Never be afraid to apply somewhere, and don't let Imposter Syndrome make you feel as though you aren't capable. Companies hiring student interns KNOW you're not going to know everything--there will be grace, opportunity to grow, and they expect you to come to learn and not just do their grunt work! (Well, most of the time. I always put the coffee on of my own free will, I promise!) I went in feeling petrified that I didn't know enough and that they would be disappointed in me once they "found out who I really was". I've never been so wrong--they knew exactly who they were hiring, and they wanted me there! Don't be afraid to apply somewhere; the worst that can happen is having to try again later. :)
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Software Development Intern

June - August 2017 • Orlando, FL

What I liked

It was an awesome work environment, working in a Christian organization doing missions work and Bible translation around the globe. We were able to make a difference and start and finish an entire project, as well as get used to working in a development team and sharing a lot of cool experiences with the employees and fellow interns.

What I wish was different

The program lasts 8 weeks, and does not begin until close to the middle of June. I wish that we could have started working a bit sooner, as we would have been able to get more work done while we were there.

Advice

I would encourage a future intern to take advantage of all of the opportunities that the employees open up for you. There are meetups with other developers in Orlando, lot's of group events and activities, and many other like-minded interns from around the country and even around the world. I would encourage future interns to get to know the people that they work with and take advantage of their time in Orlando.
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