More Than One Mountain to Climb

Introduction: Three Peaks to Climb

It would be a lie if I said I think there is a single biggest challenge in this internship. As I stand at the beginning of this 13-week journey, looking ahead at the weeks to come, it feels like all the potential challenges are big ones. Pinpointing just one as the “biggest” seems to dismiss the significance of the others. After some thought, I’ve realized that my biggest challenge is actually a collection of three distinct, yet equally important, hurdles that I will need to navigate. They each represent a unique area for growth, and I am ready to face them head on.


Beyond My Project: Understanding the Engineering Puzzle

The first challenge revolves around truly understanding what my team does. I am an intern on the Compute Platform team, and to say their work is complex would be an understatement. My internship project is specific and well defined, which is great for allowing me to focus and contribute. However, I know that my project is just one small piece of a much larger puzzle. The engineers on my team are dealing with incredibly intricate systems, ensuring they are reliable and available for other engineers. Their conversations are filled with technical jargon and concepts that are currently beyond my grasp. I am concerned that it will take a significant amount of time for me to even begin to comprehend the full scope of their responsibilities and the architecture they manage. To tackle this, I plan on setting up coffee chats with different engineers on the team. I hope that these informal conversations will provide a space for me to ask questions and learn about their individual roles and the projects they are passionate about. Hearing about their experiences firsthand will be invaluable.


Building Bridges Outside My Immediate Circle

My second challenge is about people, specifically getting to know those outside of my immediate team. In past experiences, I have found that I tend to get tunnel vision, focusing solely on the people I work with every day. While building strong relationships with my team members is a priority, I know that an internship at a company like this is a golden opportunity to build a wider network. There are so many talented individuals working in different departments and on a variety of fascinating projects. I feel like if I only stick to my corner of the office, I will miss out on a huge learning opportunity. My plan to fix this is to be more intentional about networking. I want to attend company events, join different employee resource groups, and maybe even reach out to people in roles that I find interesting for a quick chat. I believe that understanding how different parts of the company work together will not only make me a more well rounded intern but will also help me in my future career.


A Modern Challenge: Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch

Finally, the third challenge is a very modern one: not relying too much on AI. They can write code, answer complex questions, and make work significantly easier. The temptation to let AI do the heavy lifting is real. However, I am keenly aware that using it as a crutch would be a disservice to my own learning and development. The goal of this internship is for me to grow as an engineer, and that means grappling with problems and truly understanding the solutions. I want to use AI as a learning tool, a collaborator that can help me when I am stuck, but not as a replacement for my own critical thinking. The work can be done so much better when we all understand what is going on. By being mindful of how I use these tools, I can ensure that I am the one doing the learning and not just offloading the task.


Conclusion: Embracing the Journey Ahead

Facing these three challenges feels like a significant undertaking, but I am genuinely excited about it. Each one represents a path to becoming a better engineer and a more well rounded professional. This internship is more than just a project; it is an opportunity for immense personal and professional growth, and I plan to make the most of it.

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