Overview
When I started at Povio Academy, I didn't know just how much my perspective on web development would change. I had dabbled in coding before, but this experience was different—it was intense, focused, and for the first time, I began to really connect with frontend development. It felt like I had finally found a place where the pieces of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript were starting to make sense in a bigger picture. The academy wasn’t just about learning languages—it was about understanding how to build something meaningful from the ground up. That’s where the real excitement came in for me.
Diving Deep into the Fundamentals
The initial phase at the academy was all about the basics. Before this, I thought I understood HTML and CSS, but this experience was a whole new level. Writing clean, semantic, and accessible HTML became really interesting topics for me. I came to appreciate the real value of accessibility, which I hadn’t fully grasped before. It was no longer just about getting something to work; it was about making it work for everyone.
CSS was another area where I saw a huge shift. The concepts like Flexbox and Grid had been familiar, but now I could actually use them to craft responsive and maintainable layouts. It felt like everything I learned was setting me up for something bigger, and it was.
Internship Experience
After finishing the Academy, I was accepted into an internship at Povio, and that’s when things really got interesting. I worked on the Povio Volleyball app alongside three other interns. We were treated like part of the team and tasked with real responsibilities.
Working on a live project felt totally different from anything I had done before. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about the code—it was about communication, deadlines, and making sure we were all aligned. We had daily stand-ups, which forced me to stay on top of things and communicate better with the team. I even got a taste of what it’s like to interact with clients, which was invaluable for understanding the back-and-forth needed to deliver a project that meets expectations.
During the internship, I had the chance to dive deep into React and Styled Components. Learning how to structure styles within a component-based framework made so much sense. We also used Zustand for state management, which was a nice introduction to keeping track of global state efficiently. i18n was another tool we worked with, helping us implement internationalization across the app.
One of the most important things I took away from this experience was realizing what a healthy work environment looks like. The collaboration, support, and guidance from our mentors made all the difference. There was no pressure driven by fear or control—instead, it was a culture of encouragement and open communication. I realized that this is where I thrive. Having that level of support really pushed me to do my best work and allowed me to learn so much more.
Feedback and Growth
Throughout the internship, there was constant feedback, which was exactly what I needed. I was pushed to take more ownership of my work and speak up in meetings. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I got was to rely less on AI tools for quick answers and focus more on developing my own critical thinking skills. At first, it was challenging, but in the end, it helped me grow a lot more as a developer.
My mentor also pointed out that I have a tendency to overthink and overanalyze. Today I recognize this as part of my character. It’s both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, I'm very detail-oriented and thorough, but sometimes I take things too far and end up losing valuable time. This is something I’ve started to actively work on—finding a balance and setting limits when I feel like I’m overanalyzing a situation.
Reflections
One of the most important things I took away from this experience was realizing what a healthy work environment looks like. The collaboration, support, and guidance from our mentors made all the difference. There was no pressure driven by fear or control—instead, it was a culture of encouragement and open communication. I realized that this is where I thrive. Having that level of support really pushed me to do my best work and allowed me to learn so much more.
I’m incredibly grateful for the entire experience, and I learned so much during my time there. I’d encourage anyone who gets the chance to take this opportunity—you’ll grow in ways you might not expect.