This summer, SEP welcomed another incredible group of interns who jumped into real-world projects, asked great questions, and left their mark on our teams. From software engineering to AI-focused problem solving, each intern brought curiosity, fresh perspective, and a genuine excitement for learning.
We asked a few of them to share what surprised them about their time at SEP, favorite memories, and lessons they’re taking with them. Here’s what they had to say:
Read on to hear what our interns will take away from this summer—
Adnan Farid
Software Engineering Intern
School: University of Florida
Major: Computer Science
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
The variety of industries, not just technologies, surprised me the most. It was eye-opening to see how broad SEP’s reach really is.
Favorite Memory
Team meetings with the AI group. They were the perfect mix of getting work done and getting to know each other.
Advice for Future Interns
Don’t be afraid to try new tools and technologies—especially if they’re AI-related.
Biggest Takeaway
Building relationships is just as important as writing code. The better your connections, the easier it is to ask questions and enjoy the workplace.
Alina Li
Software Engineering Intern
School: Purdue University
Major: Computer Science
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
How quickly I was contributing to a real-world project! I was hands-on from week one.
Favorite Memory
Spending time with coworkers and fellow interns. The people here made the experience.
Advice for Future Interns
If the weather’s good, eat lunch outside!
Biggest Takeaway
Getting feedback early and often is key. Everyone at SEP is helpful and always willing to lend a hand.
Kaelin Wang Hu
Software Engineering Intern
School: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Major: Computer Science & Software Engineering
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
Just how friendly and approachable everybody on my team was. Even the seniors took significant time to help me understand and improve.
Favorite Memory
The first time I worked on a significant feature on my own and realized that the code finally made sense. After weeks of pairing and asking questions, things started to click.
Advice for Future Interns
Testing is critical—but much more challenging than in school. There’s no external grader; it’s up to you to design and implement meaningful tests.
Biggest Takeaway
ORMs are useful for abstraction and debugging, but they come with limitations. Sometimes, raw SQL still has a place.
Michelle Mercer
Software Engineering Intern
School: Cornell University
Major: Computer Science & Linguistics
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
How fully integrated I was with my team. From client meetings to sharing release contributions, I was treated like a real team member, not just an “intern.”
Favorite Memory
Pairing with my teammates—getting to know them during long mobile app build times—and learning from others in the company through AMAs and life advice.
Advice for Future Interns
It’s okay to doubt your own code. The first version is rarely perfect, and that’s how you learn to move from “coding” to real software engineering.
Biggest Takeaway
Sometimes, trade-offs are necessary. You may encounter a memory leak that isn’t worth fixing or a limitation in unit tests. What matters is learning to evaluate what’s worth sacrificing and what’s critical to preserve.
Nicholas Norman
Software Engineering Intern
School: Indiana University Indianapolis
Major: Computer Science
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
The culture. Developers at SEP are constantly collaborating—sharing ideas, troubleshooting together, and discussing best practices.
Favorite Memory
Visiting a joist manufacturing plant to see how the software we built fits into a physical process. Super cool!
Advice for Future Interns
Embrace the unknown. Get curious about how your project works and how everything fits together.
Biggest Takeaway
The importance of defining both the problem and the solution before writing any code. That’s a skill that will serve me well beyond this internship.
Nina Kern
Business Operations Intern
School: Indiana University Bloomington
Major: Information Systems
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
The variety of work! It was fascinating to see the complex problems makers are solving across so many different industries. Every project brought something new to learn.
Favorite Memory
There were so many great moments, but anytime the whole Business Operations team was together was always a highlight. I also really enjoyed learning from others across the company—whether it was during a brown bag session, a training, or just a one-on-one conversation.
Advice for Future Interns
Meet as many people as you can. Take full advantage of the activities and opportunities offered to you. Everyone here is incredibly knowledgeable and eager to help you grow, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Biggest Takeaway
I’ve come to really appreciate the thoughtfulness behind every decision SEP makes. I’ve learned what it looks like to thoroughly evaluate an idea and then execute it with precision and care.
Will Trimble
Software Engineering Intern
School: Rochester Institute of Technology
Major: Software Engineering + Computer Science
What surprised you most about working at SEP?
Being a great developer sometimes means helping a client’s team level up too—not just writing code yourself.
Favorite Memory
Jamming out to “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan with the SEP Jam Band.
Advice for Future Interns
Don’t shy away from challenging tasks. You’re capable of more than you think—and your team will support you along the way.
Biggest Takeaway
Surrounding yourself with good people makes all the difference. Switching teams during the summer was tough, but having great teammates helped me stay grounded and confident through the transitions.
To all of our 2025 interns—thank you for bringing your energy, ideas, and hard work to SEP this summer. You’ve each made a lasting impact, and we can’t wait to see where your careers take you next.
Happy National Intern Day!
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