My Summer at RAND, 2.0

After graduating from Richmond Hill High School this spring, I was ready for a new start, a new environment, and new experiences this fall as I prepare for New York City College of Technology. Most high school grads no doubt enjoy their last summer before starting college by travelling somewhere fun or exotic, sitting on a beach getting tan, or just spending those lazy, hazy, crazy days hanging out with friends. However, I decided to cut to the chase and get an early start on my career as a structural engineer by interning at RAND for a second time.

Last summer was my first internship at RAND, which I spent working with the Structural Engineering team. This summer I was fortunate enough to work with the Structural team again, building on what I learned last year. And more.

What makes RAND internships so valuable to us interns is being in the field on site visits, where we get to observe professional engineers, architects, and project managers in action and see how construction projects really work. I got a taste of what it’s like to be an engineer by taking notes on structural observations, studying engineers’ methods and analyses, drafting reports, and communicating with clients and contractors.

RAND Project Engineers Jason Boral and Christine Hobson took me under their wings and helped me understand the many aspects of a construction project and the politics of working with both contractors and clients. Tagging along with Jason and Christine has given me insight on how engineers deal with deadlines, budgets, and making sure the construction work is properly performed, not to mention dealing with government agencies, such as the DOB, DOT, DEP, and LPC.

I witnessed clients and contractors disagree on the quality of the work done and the costs, and I learned how the project manager has to diplomatically step in and help resolve disputes so the job can be completed. I see how these important communicating skills are not taught in books or in school. They are an art form learned from experience—the kind I was fortunate to get at RAND.

When people ask me what I did this summer, the simple answer is to say I interned at an engineering and architectural firm. Yes, I expanded my technical skills and knowledge, but my summer was much more than that. I improved my communication and observation skills. I gained an appreciation of how to work with others to solve problems. And I learned more than a little about life from amazing professionals. Those are the memories I’ll take with me to college this fall, and well beyond.