Completing Meta Internship (5 pts) - Class of 2027

My summer internship at Meta was a transformative experience that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone as a developer and challenged me to think critically about technology's role in addressing systemic inequities. Working as a full-stack engineering intern, I developed WiFind, a web application designed to tackle the digital divide by helping communities locate and access free internet resources. This project became deeply personal, inspired by conversations with colleagues from Puerto Rico where internet access can be spotty or remains a luxury for many families.

The technical growth was immense. I immersed myself in full-stack development, working across frontend frameworks, backend systems, and database architecture. But beyond the code, what truly shaped this experience were the relationships I built with full-time engineers, product managers, and designers. These conversations opened my eyes to how products move from ideation to implementation, and how crucial it is to have diverse voices at the table when building technology meant to serve everyone.

What struck me most profoundly was the contrast between the abundance of resources at Meta's campus and the digital inequities my colleagues described experiencing in their home communities. As a Black woman in tech spaces where I was often one of few, I felt a heightened responsibility to ensure my work contributed to closing gaps rather than widening them. This experience connects directly to discussions in my computer science and sociology courses about technological redlining and how digital infrastructure perpetuates existing inequalities.

The internship wasn't without its challenges. Navigating predominantly white, male engineering spaces required resilience and reminded me why representation matters. These experiences have crystallized my commitment to pursuing a career where I can leverage technology as a tool for social impact. This internship has fundamentally reshaped my aspirations, and I'm now certain that I want to work at the intersection of technology and social justice. I plan to seek out more opportunities to engage with underserved communities in my coursework, perhaps through service-learning projects or research on digital equity.

By Joie Whitmon