Danica was a Code2College Software Engineer for Atlassian during Summer 2025.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
During the summer, I interned at Atlassian on a team focused on improving Confluence, a popular collaboration and project management platform. I worked closely with two other interns to redesign features that help users interact more efficiently with projects and issues. One important project I worked on was creating a searchable project picker to replace a slow scrolling list, making event creation faster and more intuitive. I also contributed to adding AI-powered query features that allow users to write search commands in plain language, improving accessibility and user experience.
These efforts resulted in a smoother and more engaging product that helps thousands of users manage their work more effectively. I gained hands-on experience with deploying features gradually to real users using feature gating, which helped ensure stable and reliable releases.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I expected to deepen my coding skills, but I was surprised by how much I learned about real-world software engineering processes such as feature gating, continuous integration and delivery pipelines, and agile teamwork. These topics are rarely covered in school. I also discovered the importance of communicating clearly with stakeholders who may not be technical, which was crucial for keeping projects on track. This internship showed me that building software is not only about writing code, but also about collaboration, risk management, and thoughtfully delivering value to users.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
Before the internship, I was still exploring where I fit in tech, whether in front-end, back-end, or other areas. Now I am more confident that software engineering is the right path for me, and I want to continue exploring different specialties. I also want to seek out environments that encourage mentorship, collaboration, and continuous learning because that culture helped me grow more than I expected.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
This internship helped me realize how important a supportive team and culture are in overcoming challenges like imposter syndrome. My mentor was approachable and encouraged me to ask questions, which made learning easier and more enjoyable. I also learned that curiosity and a growth mindset are more important than knowing everything upfront. I left with a clearer sense of the kind of work environment where I thrive—one that values teamwork, continuous improvement, and open communication.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this internship. It bridges the gap between academic theory and industry practice in a meaningful way. The experience challenges you to grow both technically and professionally while working on products that impact real users. For students who want to understand how software engineering works in a large, innovative company, this internship offers a great opportunity.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a major product and to work alongside talented teammates. This internship not only improved my technical skills but also inspired me to become a better communicator and collaborator. As a woman in computer science, I hope sharing my story encourages others to pursue internships and embrace challenges in tech because supportive teams and cultures do exist, and they make a significant difference.
