This summer I worked as an intern for an Architecture and Engineering firm through Saint Nick’s Alliance called SRW. I got the opportunity to work with professionals in the field on AutoCAD drawings, site visits, weekly meetings, and more. I’ve learned a lot about professionalism and communication, and the experience has helped me figure out what I’d like in a career.
A lot of what I did was editing AutoCAD drawings, which helped me apply what I learned in class to real life. My supervisor would give me an assignment, I would work on it as best I could, then we would meet again and discuss what still needed fixing. If I ever needed help operating a command, he would help me figure it out. In addition to the experience being educational, it helped me get used to professional feedback and time management. I would be given a deadline, and expected to meet it, just like any other job. On one project I worked on I had a hard time figuring out what I was supposed to do, so I emailed my coworker about my issue, and he set up a meeting with me to talk it through. This way, I was still able to meet my deadline by just reaching out for help.
While working I also had the opportunity to complete my OSHA-10 certification, a 10 hour course that permits you to be on a construction site. For engineers this is very important, because it allows them to assess building progress, structural integrity, and other things that are their responsibility to handle. Through the course I learned a lot about worksite safety protocols, such as kinds of protective equipment and the importance of spatial awareness when in a work zone. At the end of the course I received a certificate that I will need eventually if I ever become an engineer. Because of this course I was able to accompany my supervisor on site visits and see a new area of the job. I went twice to an elementary school that hired us to redesign their auditorium. It involved taking a lot of measurements and photos, as well as listening to the client’s requests, so we could begin the design process.
On my last day on the job I had to give a presentation, along with the other interns, on two historical buildings in NYC. I worked on this project throughout my time there this summer, and spent a lot of time researching and preparing. I chose Grand Central Terminal and the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum as my two buildings, and I was able to learn a lot more about the two than I anticipated. I learned that both buildings are ADA compliant (American Disabilities Act) because they were built with ramps throughout, despite the fact that they were completed long before the ADA was enacted. I also learned the ceiling constellations in Grand Central are backwards. This project helped with my research skills, as I had to find all the information on my own. Additionally, presenting to a group of professionals helped me gain confidence in my own knowledge and presentation.
Thank you to Erasmus Ikpemgbe, my worksite supervisor, for helping me figure out the ropes of the working world. Additionally, a big thanks to Saint Nick’s Alliance for making it all possible. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to gain real work experience, and I hope the skills I’ve developed will help me wherever I end up down the road.