This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Microsoft, diving into the world of Azure Cloud Computing. Working on a deeply nuanced and technical product was both challenging and rewarding. I started out feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of the project, but with the guidance of my amazing team, I slowly gained the confidence and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully. A special thank you to my manager, Brian Oakley, and my mentor, John Michael, who both played instrumental roles in my growth. My teammates, Claire Goetschel, Ross Lordon, Manny, Necia Dallas, Grant Florence, and Ivelisse Capellan-Heyer—were incredibly supportive and collaborative, helping me navigate the intricacies of cloud computing while fostering an environment where I could ask questions and learn.

In addition to my core internship project, I took on the exciting challenge of organizing InternHacks, a hackathon exclusively for Microsoft interns. As the head of marketing, I was responsible for the event's branding, including retro-inspired posters and digital assets. Balancing my full-time work with leading a small team for InternHacks taught me valuable lessons in time management and prioritization. I learned to keep the team aligned on a shared vision while ensuring that we delivered engaging materials that captured the hackathon’s creative spirit. Seeing interns come together to collaborate, innovate, and have fun was an incredibly rewarding experience that made the long hours worth it.

Outside of work, I embraced the adventure of exploring a new state on my own for the first time. Living in Washington gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and make meaningful connections. I networked with interns from companies like Amazon and Adobe, and one of the highlights of my summer was touring Adobe HQ in Seattle and attending an inspiring talk there. These experiences allowed me to expand my professional network while gaining fresh perspectives on design and technology.