Internships are more than just a way to get work experience. They are also a chance to learn about yourself and grow both personally and professionally. At Likha-iT, our interns were not only part of projects but also part of a team that values learning, support, and real connections. As their internship comes to an end, Eli, Ethan, Dice, and Jillah from Saint Louis University (SLU) share the lessons and experiences they gained during their time with us.

 

A New Start: A Fresh Intern’s Journey by Ethan Christian Mina

Hi! I’m Ethan, a Software Engineer intern at Likha. This opportunity was my very first professional experience, as well as my first time being away from home for a long time. 255 kilometers away from home, ready to live and learn from a fresh, new experience for 4 months. It was scary because it was my first time to move to somewhere new, and experience so many different and new things, but at the same time, exciting because I got an opportunity to learn and grow, both as a person and a professional. 

Over the past four months I’ve been here, learning and growing both my skills as a professional in the IT industry. Adjusting to these circumstances has widened my perspective on how it really is in the professional world. From my first week, I’ve learned so much about becoming a good developer through all the different tasks I was given. Working with my team, D12N, has taught me so much. It was very enlightening to work with these people that have done this a while as compared to everything I’ve done so far in my professional life. I’m very thankful that from these experiences a lot of my skills have grown, especially my technical skills, problem solving skills, analytical skills, and more. As for my soft skills, I’ve learned to become more detail-oriented and have better communication. I’ve absorbed many lessons which I will carry with me and further practice, improve, and add to.

Adapting to a new environment can be overwhelming but with Likha, all these changes and new things were easier than I expected. The people here gave a very warm welcome, everyone was kind and encouraging, which I appreciated very much and am ever grateful for how we’re treated as interns. From how I am as a professional to how I am as a person, I have Likha to thank for contributing to the growth and development of so many things. These experiences will surely be part of the stepping stones towards the dreams and goals I have set for myself. As my journey as an intern comes to a close, I have some advice for those who are about to embark on the same ship. Be afraid, then do it anyway. The things in life wherein we feel scared are those moments that have the potential to launch us to greater heights. The outcome might not always be good, or what you expect, but no matter what happens, there is always a lesson to be learned from it.

 

I Walked In Nervous, I Walked Out Inspired by Elijah Gagante

Initially, it was embedded in my brain that there will always be a high-level of strictness in every environment. An environment that is depressing and dull where everyone wears suits and works in silence. These are the things I expected before starting my internship, but as my initial days passed in Likha-iT, all that negativity flew away in an instant and it left a lasting positive impact on my growth which I never anticipated.

The people that I met in Likha-iT were not intimidating at all. All of them were warm and approachable. The team where I joined did not expect me to be perfect right away, and  encouraged me to be more curious, so that there would not be any confusion. Every question I asked about the system, requirements, test charters, and bugs was met with encouragement, and not judgement. My mentor took the time to explain everything from the start, from writing clear test charters to understanding how features were expected to behave. She is really incredible, and I admire her high critical thinking and attention to detail skills, which I hope I can also attain little by little as I grow in the QA landscape. 

As the days went by at the company, I started gaining confidence when it came to filing bugs, verifying fixes, and even identifying issues while performing regression testing, which helped the team improve features before release. It was not an easy journey, as there were challenges where I sometimes made some mistakes, but my mistakes became moments for growth. I learned that in QA, asking questions is a strength, not a weakness, and that paying attention to details, no matter how small it is, makes a big difference.

Looking back on my journey at Likha-iT, I can’t help but smile at how wrong my initial expectations were. What began with apprehension was transformed into one of the most enriching professional experiences I’ve had. Not only did I develop technical skills in quality assurance that will serve me throughout my career, but I also discovered the value of a supportive team environment. I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone at Likha-iT, who made this experience so memorable. As I move forward in my professional path, I’ll definitely carry with me both the practical knowledge and the meaningful relationships, as they will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors and remain a foundation for my continued growth in the tech industry.

 

Journeying Beyond My Comfort Zone by Diana Me Cariño

During my internship as a QA Engineer at Likha-iT Inc., I received lots of opportunities to gather new knowledge from people in different departments, teammates, and my peers. Digitalization (D12N), a superb team of Software Developers and a QA Engineer who helped me gain first-hand experience in software testing and guided me to understand further and easily adapt Likha-iT’s culture, structures, and procedures. The knowledge and practical experience I acquired through this internship are some highlights that truly made my internship remarkable.

Through the interview process, which assessed my problem-solving ability and technology expertise, it became possible to be part of Likha -iT. In the process, we talked about test case scenarios, basic quality assurance concepts, and my methodology for identifying software bugs. My ability to collaborate and resolve issues in a fast-paced setting was also asked. Understanding testing procedures, comprehending the software development life cycle process, and analyzing essential software quality assurance approaches were all necessary for my interview preparation. 

Behind the Testing

As a QA Engineer, I know it is important to understand the system features and have a keen sense of detail.  My knowledge of the important role quality assurance provides in ensuring an efficient and seamless user interface has improved as an outcome of this experience.  I took an active role in sprint planning, test summary reports, and refinement meetings, allowing me to understand and see important insights into the teamwork that drives the development process. I have better understood how QA fits into a bigger picture of developing software processes and how developer-tester collaboration affects a product’s overall success due to these discussions. My awareness of the essential function that quality assurance plays in developing software has grown as an outcome of attending daily meetings, conversing with my mentor, and experiencing how senior software quality assurance engineers approach resolutions for issues that arise. The mantra that the QA Teams here in Likha-iT that I would never forget is to “never assume, always ask.”

 

An Open Letter of Gratitude

 

To My Amazing Team D12N,

I am very grateful for having each of you as a huge part of my learning journey here in Likha-iT. Your support, knowledge, and guidance made every task, and this journey feels meaningful, and every challenge feels conquerable. I am beyond grateful to have grown alongside such talented, passionate, and driven individuals.

 

To My Very Best Mentor,

Bossing Ween, thank you for your guidance, support, and belief in me throughout my journey here in Likha-iT. Your wisdom and patience helped me grow, and your encouragement made all the difference. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and challenge myself with your help. I will always carry your lessons with me.

 

To The Whole QA Team,

Thank you for being so welcoming and collaborative from the start of my stay here in Likha-iT. Working with all of you helped me understand the value of patience, detail, and teamwork in quality assurance. I have learned so much just by being part of your day-to-day meetings and discussions, and I will bring those lessons wherever I go.

 

To Ma’am Yeesa and Ma’am Cy,

Thank you for helping us get into Likha-iT smoothly. Your guidance in processing everything we needed behind the scenes allowed us to be part of something meaningful. I am genuinely thankful for all the support.

 

To my Trio — Dren, Ly, and Julie,

The three of you have always been my constants through it all. Whether it is for work advice, life rants, or just a good laugh, you were always one call away. Thank you for not just being a friend but also as my ate’s and kuya who show up every time. 

 

To My Whole Likha-iT family,

Thank you for welcoming me with open arms, especially since I am new to this industry. From day one, you made me feel like I belonged. Every interaction, big or small, added something special to my internship journey. Your energy, creativity, and passion are inspiring, and I am fortunate to have experienced them all.

 

With all my heart, 

Dice ​​

Keep slaying, Likha Fam

 

HQA –  20250515 [Intership] A bug’s life by Jillah Marie Alingay

~~ It took 600 hours to graduate this bug. ~~

Like a wandering bug I travel the world – chasing experiences, making discoveries and collecting memories.

My internship at Likha is one of the most meaningful experiences that I’ve had so far. 

Coming in, I didn’t really expect anything. I was a burnt-out college kid, just hoping to land in a peaceful environment where I could breathe for a bit. I guess the world did its wonders and heard my prayers.

What I found at Likha was more than just peace, it was a space that allowed me to grow, learn, and feel supported. I was treated like a part of the team. The environment was calm, everyone was approachable, and I never felt scared to ask questions or admit when I didn’t know something.

On the technical side, I learned so much, from how to do proper QA testing, down to the importance of documenting and staying organized. Tasks like bulk testing, creating test data, and checking notifications became very memorable to me. It helped me understand how small details can make a huge difference in the user experience.]

But what stood out to me the most was how the experience helped shape my mindset. I became more detail-oriented, more proactive, and more confident in my ability to learn. I also saw what a healthy, respectful workplace could look like and that kind of insight is priceless coming straight out of school.

A huge part of that positive experience was thanks to my mentor. She made things easier, not just by teaching me, but by checking in and making sure I was okay. She supported me not only as a QA intern, but as a person adjusting to a whole new world.

Looking back, I realized I walked into this internship tired and unsure of what the future would look like. But now, I’m walking out with a clear idea of the kind of professional I want to be and the kind of environment I want to be in.

 

Steps to Replicate Likha

Looking back, these are the things that I believe made my internship experience meaningful.

1. A welcoming space. From day one, I didn’t feel out of place. People were warm, approachable, and easy to talk to. That made it easy to ask questions, learn, and feel like I belonged.
2. Mentorship that supports. Having a mentor who genuinely cared made a huge difference. She didn’t just guide me through tasks—she checked in on how I was doing mentally and gave me space to grow at my own pace.
3. Encouraging curiosity, not perfection. I never felt pressured to know everything. It was okay to be a beginner, to make mistakes, and to keep asking “why?” That kind of culture made learning feel safe and exciting.
4. Letting interns own their work. I was trusted with real tasks, from writing test cases to doing bulk testing and that helped me take my work seriously and build confidence.
5. Kind and open communication. Whether through feedback, casual convos, or daily check-ins, people at Likha made sure everyone felt heard and seen.

 

Expected Result

At the start of this internship, I simply hoped to understand how software development works in the real world and to learn what role a Quality Assurance Engineer plays in that process. I was looking to gain experience and knowledge that would help me in the future.

Looking back, I got more than what I asked for. I not only learned the technical side of QA, but I also got to experience what it’s like to work in a healthy, supportive environment. For that, I’m genuinely grateful.

 

References

• Date: January – May 2025
• Total Hours: 600
• Team: Employee Portal
• Position: QA Engineer Intern
• Name: Jillah Marie Alingay

It has been a pleasure working with everyone and being part of the company. This experience gave me a gentle and meaningful introduction to the industry which I would always be grateful for. Thank you and goodbye! See you po!