Hey everyone! I'm currently in university, and I've just got my feet wet with the basics of C and some other programming concepts. I landed an internship at a place called FTT, working as a backend developer on a project that involves creating a WhatsApp chatbot to assist students with common questions about our university. There's also a dashboard for professors to manage 'tickets'— messages from students the bot couldn't handle.
Initially, I was super excited and learned a ton about databases, HTTP requests, backend frameworks, and APIs—way more than I ever saw in class! But now, I find myself feeling completely lost. I'm just staring at the codebase, not knowing what to do next. On top of that, our 'clients' (the university professors) aren't very available to help clarify things. We're unsure about which API to use for WhatsApp integration, and we might not even get access to a real number for testing the bot.
During a month-long break, I tried learning Java and enjoyed the structured nature of it, but I still feel like I'm just copying code and Googling everything. I often think I'm just faking my way through, and I don't feel like a 'real' developer. It's tough not to feel lost or like I'm falling behind, even though I know this is part of the learning process. Has anyone else felt this way? Any tips on how to get past this block?
2 Answers
Welcome to the real world of programming! I've been there too—my first job was maintaining a ton of applications with basically zero docs. It's not unusual for interns to feel lost; most companies don’t have a solid onboarding process. I’ve worked at eight places, and only two had decent onboarding!
It took me about 1.5 years to feel confident in my current job. University focuses a lot on concepts but rarely on real-world applications. Just know that feeling lost is part of the process. Keep asking questions and communicate openly! You’ll get there eventually.
Are you struggling with your internship or a school project? It's a bit confusing since you mentioned professors. If it’s your internship, remember it’s supposed to be a learning experience. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisors for guidance.
Yeah, it's my internship! I thought it would be super hands-on, but it's been tough with little support.
Totally agree! Figuring things out on the job is normal. Don't hesitate to lean on your fellow interns or colleagues for help. Keep pushing through!