For my practicum, I worked as a Software Engineering Intern at Clarity Innovations, a tech company based in Columbia, Maryland. I found this internship opportunity through my high school internship in computer science, and I applied when Clarity Innovations reached out to me about available summer positions. The main project I worked on involved developing an AI proposal bot using several different databases and technologies. The goal of the project was to create a system that could interact with data stored in multiple databases and use machine learning to generate meaningful insights. Our team worked together remotely, with occasional in-person meetings, and our project was part of a larger push to advance the company’s AI capabilities.
A typical day at the practicum started at 9 AM when I would log into my laptop to begin working on my assigned part of the project. I worked on my tasks individually for a couple of hours, primarily coding in Python using VS Code and GitHub as the development environment. Around 11 AM, our team would meet via Zoom to discuss our progress, clarify any issues, and get feedback from our mentors. After this meeting, I would continue working on the project. We usually took a lunch break and then had a second meeting with the team to check in on everyone’s progress and address any concerns. The rest of the day would be spent working independently on solving problems, coding, and testing our work. I primarily worked with Weaviate, Llama2, and Hugging Face embeddings to help create the RAG architecture, which was a crucial part of the AI proposal bot.
The project taught me a lot about data science, particularly in the areas of database management and machine learning. I was exposed to various technologies, and I learned how to interact with and manipulate data within these tools. The work was often challenging and required a lot of self-research. Since most of our work was remote, I didn’t have as much direct, hands-on help from mentors. Instead, I had to search for solutions on my own when I encountered problems. I would often come across a challenge, research potential solutions, test them, and keep trying until I found a working solution. This process helped me develop my analytical and problem-solving skills. In many ways, it was similar to what I’ve done in my SGC Colloquium classes, where we are constantly asked to research problems and figure out solutions on our own. It made me realize that I’m capable of figuring things out independently, even when I don’t know the answer at first. I learned that if I’m willing to put in the effort and research, I can overcome challenges, and I’m not limited by what I already know.
In terms of my role within the team, I was not the leader, but I often acted as a "second in command." I contributed ideas, communicated with the group, and worked well with others, but I didn’t take on the full responsibility of leading the team. The collaboration among our group members was strong, and we communicated effectively, which helped us solve problems quickly and keep the project moving forward. I was able to speak up when necessary, but I also knew when to listen and let others take the lead on certain tasks. Overall, our teamwork was productive, and we achieved our goals through clear communication and mutual support.
Through this internship, I learned a lot about myself. I realized that I have a strong ability to work independently and think critically when faced with challenges. This experience also helped me confirm that I want to pursue a career in data science, as I enjoy the problem-solving aspect and the ability to work with data to create solutions. I also realized that I have the potential to work in leadership roles, even if I didn’t take on the formal leadership position in this project. Going forward, I plan to continue building on these skills by pursuing a Master’s in Data Science, with a possible focus on Artificial Intelligence. This experience has given me more confidence in my ability to handle complex tasks, and I now feel more prepared for future internships and career opportunities.
If I could have been better prepared for this internship, I think I could have taken more advanced coursework in machine learning and database management before starting. While I learned a lot on the job, some foundational knowledge would have helped me work even more efficiently. I’m now planning to focus more on these subjects in my upcoming academic coursework and to look for additional internships that will give me more hands-on experience in these areas. This project and internship have definitely solidified my career path, and I’m excited to continue exploring the possibilities in data science.
Overall, I would highly recommend this internship to future SGC students, especially those interested in technology, data science, or AI. The opportunity to work on a real-world project, collaborate with a team, and gain exposure to new technologies has been invaluable, and I believe it will be a key part of my professional development in the future.