For most of this summer, I interned at Expedia (dot cooooom!)

I was interning as a tester on the corporate travel team. My main task was to automate tests for the website. In other words, I had to write code that acted like a human user that would perform searches on the site, book flights, make accounts for users, etc.

Aside from coding, I got to find out what it’s like to work on a team in “the real world.” I wholeheartedly believe that this was a much more important lesson than anything I’ve learned at school thusfar. Being able to interact with other people on the team, and communicate ideas and thoughts was a very important asset this summer.

Additionally, I learned it’s much easier to pursue your hobbies after school (and constantly pulling all nighters) are over. There was so much cool stuff the people on my team were doing. A few were training for the Columbia Tower stair climb, one was an avid whitewater kayker and rock climber, one was in a local orchestra, and a big group would get together regularly after work and play halo against other teams. (They went on to enter the 128 tournament at PAX.) My team was so awesome.

Aside from Expedia, I had alot of time this summer to pursue other hobbies. I learned how to whitewater kayak, and went on a camping trip with the University Kayak Club. It was super cool to meet brave people and go on some technical rivers. I also had time to ride my sweet bike around Seattle and get some good exercise.