We met Daria through the internship program "Stagii pe bune" and she later joined us for a 3-month internship inside the CryptPad team. Daria learned a lot about accessibility during her internship. Not only did she implement listed tasks, but she was also proactive and "learned how to learn" by doing her own audits to identify future tasks. And although all good things come to an end, we dare say that in her case, endings leave room for even better things on the horizon! As such, now that her internship is over, Daria's journey at XWiki is entering a new, exciting chapter. She is pursuing her activity inside CryptPad as a part-time XWikier while also overseeing her studies and enjoying her final year as a student.
Without further ado, let's find out more about Daria's transition from intern to employee in her own words!
- Favorite artist: Apashe
- Best book ever read: “If Cats Disappeared from the World” by Genki Kawamura
- Dream destination: New York
- Quote you live by: Dream until it becomes your reality.
- At the office or remote? Remote
Tell me about yourself
Hi! I'm Daria, and I'm 21 years old, getting ready for my upcoming third and final year as a Computer Science student this fall. Outside the tech world, I'm someone who thrives on new experiences and embraces the unknown with open arms.
I'm thrilled to share that I had the opportunity to join the XWiki team this summer, where I worked as an Encryption & Privacy Developer for CryptPad. During my internship, I had the chance to make contributions to CryptPad, particularly in the areas of front-end development and accessibility improvements. Now, I will be continuing my work as a part-time member of the CryptPad team (exciting stuff is coming!).
🌄 The internship experience
How did you find out about XWiki and what made you choose it for an internship?
I discovered XWiki through a Romanian internship program called "Stagii Pe Bune". While exploring the available internships, the CryptPad opportunity immediately caught my attention thanks to its requirements, and I was eager to give it a try. Later, during a discussion with David, it became clear to me that there was an opportunity for me to do more, particularly because of my interest in the accessibility domain.
What was your internship experience like?
My internship was fantastic. I learned a lot about how teams work together, and I got better at understanding accessibility. Plus, I met some really nice people during the internship. Right from the start, the CryptPad team was incredibly welcoming. Even though my accessibility work was a solo project, I still had the chance to interact with the team, and they were exceptionally friendly and supportive.
What did you find to be the most interesting and challenging tasks?
The most exciting and tough parts of my internship were all about making CryptPad more accessible to people. What made it exciting was that I hadn't done this kind of work before. It was a big learning experience, and I felt great knowing I was helping make technology easier for everyone to use. While there's still more work ahead, I'm pleased that I took a significant step forward. 
And what about integration into the environment? How easy, or difficult was it for you?
It was honestly quite easy! Everyone I met was incredibly friendly and helpful, which made the whole experience even better. I also appreciated the fact that I could easily talk to anyone I needed to.
Daria with the XWiki team during the 2023 Seminar
🔎 Open-source impressions
Was open source something you had an interest in prior to XWiki?
Before I became part of XWiki, I had encountered Open Source through the use of various related tools such as Vaadin, PostgreSQL, Linux, Visual Studio Code, but I didn't have an extensive knowledge of it at that time.
What's the open-source value you identify with most?
Transparency – it empowers individuals and communities to work together effectively.
💡 Lessons learned
What would you say is the most valuable lesson you learned during your time at XWiki?
The most valuable lesson I learned was the importance of effective collaboration and open communication within a team. Being the newbie, I didn't know how everything worked but everyone in the team was eager to help me setup either my workspace, or answer questions about the code or CryptPad in general. I even spoke with the XWiki team on how they were working on their accessibility issues, and that discussion gave me very helpful insights. I also appreciated getting feedback because it allowed me to continuously improve my work and skills.
⏳ The XWiki experience
What made you join XWiki as a part-time employee after your internship?
To be fully honest, my work: there's something rewarding about making web accessible for everyone. Oh, and also the people are a huge bonus. 😊
Will your role change?
Until I can make CryptPad fully accessible, I don't think so.
If you could describe your XWiki experience in one word, what would it be?
Growth 🐥
Favorite memory at XWiki?
My favorite memory at XWiki was when we had the seminar where I got to meet (almost) everyone on the team in person. We had interesting discussions and workshops where we shared ideas and experiences. It was amazing to see how our diverse team worked together.
One standout moment from the seminar was when the interns had their own presentation. What made it memorable for me was the fact that I stepped out of my comfort zone and spoke in front of the entire company, as I am not one that does that very frequently. It was a rewarding experience, as it pushed me to embrace new challenges and share a bit about myself and my experience with my new colleagues.
Daria and the other interns posing during the Seminar party
