Hi! We’re Wei Xuan and Anthe, two students from Karel de Grote College. During the spring semester of 2025, we have had the pleasure of being two of the interns working on b.achieved. As we near the end of our time here, we’ve been fondly looking back on what has been a whirlwind of new and exciting experiences.

AWSome Beginning

Our internship has been packed with valuable lessons - both technical and personal. We dove headfirst into the world of Amazon Web Services, which was previously undiscovered territory for us, and quickly found ourselves immersed in the concepts of serverless architecture. What started out as an intimidating challenge soon became an exciting opportunity to grow, thanks to the supportive environment created by the team.

We learned the power of timeboxing to better manage our tasks, and more importantly, the value of asking questions - not just to find answers, but to spark meaningful conversations and shared understanding. Through daily standups and retrospectives, we experienced first hand just how crucial teamwork is in this field. By leaning into each other’s strengths, we were able to move forward with more confidence and efficiency.

Most importantly, our internship has ignited within us a newfound affection for (automated) testing. Through hands-on experience, testing became a vital part of our workflow, and a tool that empowered us to develop with confidence, catch bugs early, and ensure long-term project stability. It’s safe to say that testing has earned a permanent place in our hearts.

Branching Out

While every day was memorable, if we had to pick our favorite experiences, the workshops would take the cake. Whether it was a refresher course on Docker or trying our hand at the infamous “vibe coding”, these moments facilitated a safe space to challenge ourselves and try new things in a fun, supportive environment. The workshops weren’t just about sharpening skills - they were about creativity, exploration, and sometimes just having fun with code.

(Tech) Support

Of course, not everything was smooth sailing. Tackling new technologies, setting up unfamiliar environments, and squashing stubborn bugs definitely kept us on our toes. But what stood out was how approachable and supportive everyone on the team was. Whenever we hit a wall, there was always someone ready to help us climb it, not with answers handed to us, but with a gentle nudge in the right direction, allowing us to discover our own path.

What surprised us the most about this experience was the amount of care and consideration this company has for its employees, and by extension, interns. From Koen, one of the managing partners, taking the time to create a safe space for us with 121 meetings, to the daily communal lunches, the culture here made us feel like a part of the team from day one.

If we had to sum up the atmosphere in three words, it would be: familial, fun, and open. There’s a natural warmth in the way people treat each other – there’s always humor, genuine curiosity, and a spirit of collaboration in the air. Although we were working on our own separate project, there wasn’t a single moment where we didn’t feel included.

w.achieved

This internship has not only given us new skills and experiences but has also shown us what it means to work in a company that values people as much as it values innovation. We’re leaving with a lot of knowledge, fond memories, and a deep appreciation for the culture at b.ignited. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to the entire b.ignited team for making us feel heard and included, and for giving us the opportunity to grow during our time here. We will look back fondly on the moments we shared with all of you for the rest of our careers.