Hey everyone,
I'm currently a university student and I've just started an internship as a backend developer on a project that's aimed at creating a WhatsApp chatbot. The bot's job is to help students with common questions about our university, but so far, there hasn't been much onboarding or guidance.
I was really excited at the beginning and learned a ton—like working with databases, handling HTTP requests, and getting in touch with backend frameworks and APIs—much more than I learned in class. But now I've hit a wall. I find myself staring at the codebase, feeling completely lost about what to do next. On top of that, the professors (the clients) aren't around to clarify things, and we're uncertain about which API to use for WhatsApp integration or if we'll even have access to a real number for testing.
During a month-long vacation, I started learning Java, and I enjoy its structured nature, but I still feel like I don't know how to code properly. Most of the time, it feels like I'm just copying code, Googling solutions, and pretending to understand things. I often question if I'm a real developer or just a fraud. I'm aware that this confusion is part of the learning process, but I can't shake the feeling of falling behind or being lost.
Has anyone else gone through something similar? I'd love any tips on how to navigate this block!
2 Answers
Are you struggling more with the internship or is it a school project? It sounds a bit confusing with the professors involved. Just make sure you clarify what exactly your role is and seek help from your peers or mentors if you're unsure about what steps to take next.
Welcome to the real world of programming! Trust me, feeling lost is super common. My first internship involved maintaining a bunch of existing software with barely any documentation, and it took me over a year to feel comfortable with the system at my current job. University often teaches you concepts without the hands-on experience of building real products, but that comes with time and practice. Just keep asking questions and communicating with your team; you'll get the hang of it!
Absolutely! It’s vital to reach out for help. It might feel overwhelming now, but it will get easier as you keep practicing and asking questions.
It’s definitely internship-related; he's working on a real project. Just take it one step at a time, and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance!