Chinese CS Student Reflects on Startup Job That Ended in Dismissal

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A software engineering student from China, who goes by ACatNight, has shared reflections on a formative internship at a small startup during their second semester. The student worked on real-world projects and bugs but was eventually let go after making a mistake on the job. Despite the setback, the experience reshaped their understanding of software development, highlighting the importance of system design, collaboration, and handling pressure beyond just writing code. After returning to school, the student resumed personal projects and is currently studying C# .NET backend development and AI applications using tools like ASP.NET Core, Docker, and Redis. They are also rebuilding a side project called StudyTree, an AI-powered learning reflection tool designed to help users identify knowledge gaps and plan what to learn next.

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