Ofelia Hănțoiu
Information Technology student Ofelia Hănțoiu has always wanted to make an impact, but figured it was something for later when she was working. During her internship at ASML, she became part of a large and complex technical environment where her work had to fit into existing systems. When she presented her project to the entire department, she wasn't expecting anything major. The questions that followed made her realise that what she'd developed really would make a difference.
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"At a certain point during my internship, I had to give a presentation. Not just to my team, but to the whole department. I was a bit scared and I remember thinking how does this relate to anything at all? It's just an internship, right? But once I started explaining and showing what I'd built, people began asking questions and getting more and more enthusiastic.”
Technical and creative
“I've always been more drawn to the technical side of things. I enjoyed maths and physics and when I first found out about programming, I got really curious. I taught myself a few basics and really liked how much creativity was involved. It's not just theoretical, it's also problem solving. I think that's what attracted me the most: you never stop learning or adapting and there's always a challenge.”
Meaningful programming
“I've also always had this drive to make an impact. When you're younger, you think you can change the world by yourself, but as you grow older, you realise you can't make change alone. You have to work together with other people.”
“ASML supplies to the semiconductor industry and makes it possible to mass produce patters on silicon, helping to make computer chips smaller and faster. I worked on a tool that could be integrated into one of their larger systems. It helps other developers improve their coding practices and prevent mistakes that could lead to bigger problems later. Coding-wise, it was sometimes challenging, but the biggest challenge was integrating it into their existing tools and applications so that it would be meaningful.”
Part of the bigger picture
“What impressed me most was being part of something larger. So many professionals from different backgrounds and countries, all working towards one goal. In a way, there were all role models to me. Even though I was an intern, I was treated like one of them. I could ask questions, share my opinion, and they wouldn't judge me if I didn't know something.”
“And then there was that presentation. When people started asking questions and were really enthusiastic about using the tool, I suddenly realised what that meant. They saw value in it. Wow, I thought, I've developed something they can actually use. Something that was scalable and could be developed further. That felt so rewarding.”
Constructive learning
“Looking back, I can see how my degree prepared me. We work in sprints on our projects, so that structure felt normal to me. And working in lots of different teams with people from different cultures and backgrounds had helped me learn to adapt quickly.”
“Another important thing about my studies is that we are responsible for our learning and our own progress. We're given freedom, but also constructive feedback. Lecturers explain when we make mistakes and help us improve. I always saw it as constructive criticism and it help me grow more confident. I hadn't realised how much that would help me later, but during my internship, I saw it clearly.”
Room to grow
“I also didn't expect to do something like this so soon. I thought I would have to work for years before contributing to something meaningful. That's why I'm really grateful internships are integrated into our curriculum. I can't imagine only studying theory and then going into the world without real experience. Now, I feel like I have a lot of room to grow. I know this is the path I want to take and that I have options to explore. My internship helped me realise how much I enjoy being part of something bigger and contributing beyond just my own project. It feels rewarding knowing that I can help.”