For college students, the summer season brings more than just hot weather and long-anticipated freedom from final exams. It is a time to embrace new challenges and gain experience outside of the classroom. Viterbi students are masters at achieving a productive and fulfilling summer break. Here is a glimpse into how I spent my summers as a mechanical engineering student:
Summer Internship: A Hands-On Learning Opportunity
During the summer after my freshman year, I had the incredible opportunity to work as a Quality Engineer Intern at Collins Aerospace in Riverside, California. At Collins Aerospace, I took on three projects related to quality control and streamlining operations. The projects that I worked on involved documenting different machining and inspection processes on the shop floor and talking with our highly experienced technicians. In addition to completing three engineering projects that I could add to my resume, my time at Collins Aerospace allowed me to sharpen my communication, time management, and public speaking by working in a corporate environment. Here, I realized the beauty of a summer internship, which is the unlimited amount of experience and knowledge that you gain in such a short time. I love to say that there was never a day during my 10-week internship where I did not learn something.
Staying Busy Without an Internship
This past summer, I spent my days a bit differently than I did the year prior. This year I did not have an internship, but I was able to keep busy with an online class, attending conferences, and traveling the world!
Get ahead by taking an online class
Over the summer, I took an online course in Engineering Dynamics to lighten my courseload in the fall. While doing weekly homework and taking exams during the summer does not sound glamorous, I was able to get my work done and spend time with my family and friends since the class was asynchronous.
Attend Events in Your Area
Another exciting thing I did over the summer was attend the Rapid + TCT Conference at the LA Convention Center to showcase USC Racing’s formula race car. The conference was an exciting three-day event that showcased some of the biggest additive manufacturing companies in the world, such as Stratasys and Markforged. It was amazing to see all the types of 3-D printing technology in one room and gain insight into the world of additive manufacturing.
Get a global perspective
Finally, my favorite part from this summer was my WRIT-340 Maymester in Berlin. At USC, Viterbi students are allowed to apply for a special writing class that offers a two-week study abroad trip to Berlin at the end of the Spring Semester, called a Maymester. In Berlin, I toured some of Berlin’s historic buildings and museums, such as the Reichstag, Sanssouci Palace, the BMW Museum, and the Computer Games Museum. Germany is one of the most renowned hubs of engineering and technology and it was truly amazing to see this first-hand in Berlin.
Take the Time to Recharge
While it is great to commit yourself to a summer internship and take some online courses to sharpen your skillset, it is important to remember that summer is a time of peace and relaxation. Do not feel guilty about taking time for yourself to rest and recharge before jumping back into the academic grind in the fall semester.
