Shawn A. Martin Q&A | The University of Sunderland

Published on 7, August, 2024

Name: Shawn A. Martin

Job: Junior Developer

Age: 22

Country of origin: Indonesia

Tell us a little bit about your job/course and what it involves day-to-day

I am working as a junior developer in Sunderland Software City. There are several other junior developers in the company, and most of them are web developers. I mostly work together with the front-end team, designing and developing fast, usable, and accessible web apps for clients. I was working on internal software used by the company, though recently I was assigned a project with an external client.

At the start of a project, we would come together as a team to figure out the requirements and features and draft a to-do list. Every week we have a meeting to see where the team is at and work out any changes we need to make in the to-do list. Other than the meetings, my colleagues and I regularly discuss how to best build a feature, which architecture to use, documenting, and fixing bugs.

What is the best thing about your job/course?

Personally, the best thing about my job is the feeling of achievement when a task is done. When there is a difficult problem that has been overcome, or a clever solution we came up with, the satisfaction after completing a task is simply amazing. I feel powerful and capable. I also very much enjoy the atmosphere of the workplace.

How do you think your time at the University of Sunderland helped has/will help you move into your chosen career?

The knowledge I learned during university has helped me mesh into the workplace quite well. While it is not complete per se, it was enough to understand what’s going on – to understand the jargon and terminology people use. During university, I have also spent a lot of time studying and experimenting using different technologies on my own. This built my confidence; I can always learn new things independently and keep getting better.

Having lots of activities such as sports clubs and societies also helped me realize that life is not just work. It is important to have a work/life balance to prevent burnout, and to be able to connect with people outside of work. It helps me to be less boring too!

What made you pick to come to the University of Sunderland?

Before attending university, I knew that I wanted to be a web developer because it is a form of technology that is used by virtually everyone. I wanted to get good at it, and I wanted somewhere I could hone my skills. The University of Sunderland offered a modern curriculum with relevant modules, so I could spend more time learning about the technologies that matter to me, rather than learning about Dijkstra’s algorithm that I would never use (at least for now).

To be blunt, the tuition fee was a plus as well. It is amazing that international students don’t have to pay an extortionate amount of money to receive a great education.

What did/do you enjoy most about your time at the University of Sunderland - and what did/do you enjoy least?

The thing I loved the most was definitely the sports club; the Handball club. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of great people from many different places through handball. It gives me time outside of work to de-stress and channel my competitiveness.

The only unenjoyable thing about my time at university was probably the group assignments. I understand that it is vital – it aims to teach students how to work collaboratively in a team. But hey, you can’t appreciate the sunshine without the rain!

As an international student, did you find the University/city welcoming?

Very much so! I am quite lucky that I am able to speak English fluently, thus I did not feel as estranged as others might if they were not as proficient. Having said that, virtually all of the people I have met there were extremely welcoming and friendly. Everyone is supportive and respectful of each other. I am still in contact with the people I met in first year, and I have met many lifelong friends in my time at the University.

What are your hopes for the future in terms of your career?

I would love to be able to reach a level where I get paid 6 figures and work while I’m travelling. I would also love to be a mentor – guiding people in the tech industry to get better at their craft, and to use their craft ethically to make a change; a change to better our community and our society as a whole. Perhaps I would also like to be self-employed? I still have lots to learn before I feel confident to make that decision.

Has/Did your University experience change you?

Most definitely! I have grown to be a more disciplined, hard-working, and loving individual due to my experiences. I have learned to be more independent and simultaneously learned to not be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of courage. In the ever-growing individualistic society, I learned that we need to care about one another more. This is how we can overcome the loneliness epidemic currently going on. Having personal achievements are great, but it is even greater if you can share it with others.

Would you consider going back to University in the future?

Not currently. I have a lot of open-source resources available to me to improve at my current job. I also am lucky to have the opportunity to continuously learn and sharpen my skills in the environment I am working in. Perhaps when I decide to go do research on a niche subject in tech.