Internship at Regio – Mona Rea’s Story

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From April to June 2025, Mona Rea Nerva, a third-year software development student at Tartu Vocational College (VOCO), completed her internship at Regio. At the end of her placement, Mona Rea wrote down her experiences, sharing reflections on what she learned as well as what she encountered along the way.

We encourage others to apply for an internship at Regio as well. A big thank you to Mona Rea – we wish you success in your chosen field; you are only at the very beginning of your journey.

Our sincere thanks also go to our software developer, Karin Kikas, who served as Mona Rea’s mentor and supervisor throughout the internship.

I came to Regio for my internship on the recommendation of my close ones – some of them had previously worked here. Regio seemed like an exciting place for an internship because of its specific focus and product development work. Although I had never dealt with geoinformatics or spatial data before, the field sounded interesting to me, and the people at Regio were so kind and offered me the chance to expand my knowledge in this area.

It was only during the internship that I truly realised how much work goes into every map application. Before, I simply assumed that when, for example, a new development is built somewhere, it would soon appear automatically in a map view. But during my time here, I learned that in reality, every building, road, or ditch drawn on a map has been manually marked by someone. This insight has completely changed the way I look at maps.

Although my internship did not focus directly on compiling maps, I was able to work on several development projects that broadened my technical skills and my perspective as a developer. For example, to get a sense of how map applications are structured, I explored the code for Regio’s web map and even made some structural changes. I enjoyed this task because it taught me how to read code written by others, understand its logic, and integrate my own modifications into an existing system.

I also had the opportunity to create my own map application, which was very exciting. I experimented with new technologies such as MapLibre and worked with server-side solutions using NginX. It was interesting to build something I had never done before and to see it come to life visually as a map.

Another task I took on was developing a command-line program aimed at optimising and simplifying the handling of logs for developers. This project gave me the chance to write code in Bash, a language I had never used before, and to design the logic in a way that the script could be reused in other projects.

The internship went very well – the people around me were kind and friendly, and the working environment was pleasant. I could work independently on my tasks, but also knew I could always ask for help if I needed it. Development work is enjoyable, though it sometimes requires a lot of patience to track down bugs and get your program running smoothly. But once something finally works, the feeling of satisfaction is special. And, of course, it’s always nice to have a colleague or someone else to talk to when you’re stuck – which I was lucky to have.

The internship gave me valuable experience, both technically and personally. I gained a better understanding of my own working style and personality traits. I also felt reassured in my choice of profession – I enjoy continuous learning, self-improvement, and problem-solving.

Regio is a great place for anyone who wants to test their knowledge, discover new technologies, and gain experience in a unique development field. Even if the field is new to you, Regio offers an excellent opportunity to learn quickly and develop your skills. I am truly grateful to have spent my internship here.