Introduction: A glimpse into an ambitious internship
Being able to trust your own ability is a learning process for everyone, and Liberty IT’s internship program embodies this mindset. Anastasia Ridge, a third‑year software engineering student at Queen’s University Belfast, is making that journey tangible as a software engineer intern at Liberty IT. Outside of her studies, she pursues aerial silks, beekeeping and crocheting — a testament to her eagerness to grow in diverse directions while rooting her skills in concrete industry experience.
Aspiring for more: Why Liberty IT was the right choice
From the outset, Anastasia was drawn to Liberty IT’s visible culture of development and collaboration. She highlighted social channels that showcased opportunities to learn, train, and network across the company. “There are countless ways to progress,” she says, noting that the role promised a balance of hands‑on work and structured guidance to build confidence over time.
A typical day in the role: Structure, support, and autonomy
A typical day begins with status updates and checking the inbox. If there’s no ongoing ticket, Anastasia pulls one from the sprint board. A ticket outlines a task, bug, or feature, with acceptance criteria to guide ownership and collaboration. When questions arise, the team responds with patient, clear explanations, even while managing their own workloads. The daily stand‑up after lunch serves as a quick forum to share progress and surface blockers, reinforcing a culture of transparency and teamwork.
Growing scope and evolving responsibilities
Her early days focused on training and learning the team’s workflows. A dedicated buddy walked her through tickets, explaining each step and enabling her to problem‑solve independently for future tasks. As her internship progressed, Anastasia began handling her own tickets with the team’s guidance for timely completion. Her exposure has also expanded to shadowing colleagues in different roles, including a future shift to support where she’ll monitor auto‑alerts and verify system health. The trajectory reflects Liberty IT’s intent to nurture interns into capable contributors.
Key lessons learned: Confidence, curiosity, and collaboration
Confidence has grown through asking for help and seeking clarifications in a welcoming environment. Anastasia emphasizes that the learning curve is universal: “being able to trust your own ability is a learning process for everyone,” and her team has played a pivotal role in that journey. Beyond technical skills, the internship has sharpened her communication abilities, helping her engage with colleagues at all levels and understand how different roles contribute to the bigger picture.
Career clarity and future prospects
Participating in the internship has reinforced her belief that software engineering is the right path. The experience demonstrates how university knowledge—Python, SQL, and fundamental programming concepts—translates into practical, real‑world applications. Conversations with peers across departments revealed a wide spectrum of tech roles, underscoring the endless opportunities within the field.
Why other students should consider Liberty IT
Looking ahead, Anastasia praises Liberty IT’s culture: a place where colleagues inspire, share knowledge, and challenge themselves while supporting the team. The workload is managed with a growth mindset, acknowledging students are at the early stages of their careers. A well‑defined growth plan is co‑developed, ensuring interns stay motivated and on track toward meaningful milestones.
Bottom line
For students and early‑career engineers, Anastasia’s experience offers a blueprint for transforming curiosity into capability. With access to mentorship, structured learning, and exposure to diverse tech domains, Liberty IT helps interns build confidence, expand their skill set, and chart a clear path forward in technology.
