Learning Outside the Lines

Looking back on my internship, one of the most rewarding parts was exploring a machine-learning project that was completely new to me. Coming from an Immersive Applications background, I had little to no prior knowledge of machine learning, and the project was initially given to us for exploratory purposes. Rather than stopping at the first few attempts, I became increasingly interested in figuring out how to make it work. I spent time researching different models, exploring online resources, testing different approaches, and learning from each failed attempt. Through plenty of trial and error, I eventually found an approach that worked as expected. This experience taught me the importance of experimenting, evaluating different possibilities, and being persistent when the solution isn’t immediately obvious. It was also satisfying to see my research and efforts turn into something that actually worked.

As this was my first internship and my first time working in a professional environment, I also learned a lot from the people around me. I had the opportunity to interact with full-time staff, client support colleagues, and interns from different polytechnics and universities. Working alongside people with different backgrounds exposed me to different perspectives and ways of approaching problems. I also became more aware of how important communication, asking questions, and sharing ideas are when working with others. Beyond the technical side, these experiences helped me better understand workplace collaboration and become more comfortable learning from the people around me.

Overall, this internship gave me the chance to explore a field outside my course of study and discover an interest I might not have explored otherwise. More importantly, it taught me that I don’t need to have all the answers before getting started. Sometimes, progress comes from staying curious, doing my own research, trying different approaches, and being willing to learn along the way. I’m proud that I stayed committed to the project even when things didn’t work at first, and I hope to bring that same curiosity and problem-solving mindset into my future projects.