Alexandra Popa - personal experience

While creating the website and discussing technical and esthetic aspects with my colleagues, I realized that this project is more than just a summer project – it’s a story we are writing together. As the team leader, this experience has been both a challenging and uniquely rewarding learning opportunity, contributing to my personal growth.

Personal Development

During the research phase of the project, I deepened my knowledge of the history and founders of the European Union. I realized how much we owe to these personalities for the current structure of the EU and the security we enjoy today. By reflecting on the lives and visions of the pioneers, I understood that this stage of the project is not only about enriching my general knowledge but is also a source of inspiration. It strengthened my belief that teamwork and collaboration are essential for achieving great goals.

Time management was crucial for our team, as it helped us coordinate effectively, meet self-imposed deadlines, and synchronize our work schedules. Through this project, I learned to be more flexible and organized, using various apps like OneNote, Evernote and Google Calendar to plan my time. At the same time, I developed my ability to prioritize, sometimes having to set aside personal activities to meet with my colleagues.

I also learned to be more patient and not get discouraged or frustrated when facing technical issues or communication problems. I discovered the importance of active listening and clarifying points of view, which will be essential for my future, as I will often have to work in a team.

Professional Development

During this project, I realized that HTML, although fundamental, is not enough to create an attractive website. Thus, I began to familiarize myself with CSS, which I had to learn from scratch. I spent a lot of time watching online tutorials and experimenting, a process that helped strengthen my technical skills and increased my appreciation for aesthetics and design. A mobile app called Mimo, which provided access to interactive lessons and practical exercises, was also very helpful.

Additionally, this project gave me the opportunity to improve my language skills, as it was carried out entirely in English. By reading official documents and writing texts about the contributions and visions of the EU founders, I deepened my understanding of formal terms, significantly expanding my vocabulary.

A final point I would like to highlight is my growth as a leader. In this role, I took on additional responsibilities compared to the other team members, such as integrating the project components, reviewing each colleague's work, maintaining contact with the head teacher, and more. These tasks helped me develop key project management skills like communication and attention to detail, while also making me realize that coordinating a project requires a lot of dedication and commitment.

In the end, when we finished the project, I felt proud because I realized just how much my team and I had grown over the course of this summer. Together, we managed to overcome obstacles and see them as valuable lessons, transforming the hours spent at the computer, along with the frustrations and successes, into something truly meaningful. I’m thrilled with the website we created! 😄