My name is Pearl Wogu, and I'm Nigerian! I’m a SWE intern at Microsoft and was previously interning at Meta.

How Did You Get Into Software Engineering?

I came to the United States over a year ago to pursue higher education. When I started college, I majored in Biology initially but soon realized that becoming a medical doctor would take longer than I expected.

I decided to pick up the next "convenient" major to study: Computer Science. All my friends were majoring in Computer Science, and it seemed like something I could be good at. Unlike medicine, it would only take four years for me to graduate, start working full-time, and earn a competitive salary. 

I have to say that sometimes I regret my decision (lol) because of how challenging this major is, but pursuing medicine would have been equally as challenging, if not more difficult. I’ve also fallen in love with software engineering after dabbling into it, and my gut feelings are telling me that I'll stick to it and make a big success story for myself. 

How Did You Land Your Internships at Big Tech?

There was a big tech recruiter who was very in touch with the students at my university. As soon as applications were opened, I knew about it and immediately applied for the role. 

At the time of my application, I had a mentor who was a graduating senior who helped me prepare for the online assessments.  

What Has Been The Biggest Challenge In Your Career?

My biggest challenge has been the feeling of never being good enough. The tech industry is highly competitive, and you have to accomplish a lot to meet the standards (especially for big tech). It has been a struggle feeling like I'm not doing enough, or even being confident in my achievements.

What Advice Do You Have For Other Students?

Take every opportunity. Don't ever take anything for granted. I learned it the hard way. Sometimes, it's the opportunity, resource, or application you overlooked that could have worked out for you. Seize any and every opportunity. Unless you feel overwhelmed, say yes to everything.

Another advice is to work hard because unfortunately, no one is coming to save you. Don't compare yourself or your journey to anybody else's. The grass always looks greener on the other side, and it's easy to get distracted. Focus on yourself and your goals because what we focus on grows.