McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
Chidera Chuka, from Nigeria, is a computer science senior at McNeese State University who recently participated in an internship with Microsoft in Redmond, Washington.
An important takeaway that Chuka learned form the internship was “the ability to trust herself and take time to produce thoughtful, hard-earned results, while being continually open to learning, which will take you very far.”
She plans to use her developed product management and evaluation skills to further her career and build high-quality tech products that have real impact and value.
“My internship has given me industry experience and familiarity, a more impact-focused mindset and technical expertise that will make me stand out in my career path in the future,” explained Chuka.
Classroom experience taught her to approach problems with a structured, well-researched view and work with others continually to gain new perspectives, insights and knowledge. Throughout the internship, she gained a stronger ability to take ownership of her work and other responsibilities that support the work.
“After graduation this semester, ideally, I plan to return to Microsoft and my role full time or start full time at another company,” says Chuka.
Chuka was attracted to computer science because she wanted to work in a field where she could push herself technically and be creative while also building projects she is proud of. She also chose McNeese because of scholarship opportunities the university provides to international students.
“The process of applying for an internship can seem daunting or overwhelming, but it’s important and worth it to take any step you can,” advises Chuka.
