This past summer, I found myself not too far from campus, right in the heart of Venice Beach. I had the opportunity to intern for Feels Music Messaging, a vibrant startup at the crossroads of two of my biggest passions: music and technology. The company’s main project was preparing an innovative app for launch. Though I’ve only been here for a few months, I’ve been able to have a role in making a transformative impact on our app, which will soon be available online this year!
Thanks, USC!
Searching for an internship is extremely stressful for any college student, especially in engineering. I’m grateful to have gotten my internship through USC Marshall’s Summer Startup Internship Program – a program designed to connect students with startup opportunities tailored to specific interests and skills. Roles spanned across various fields, from software engineering, embedded systems, business, marketing, and more! After a written application and an online interview, I was excited to land the role!
This experience was a testament to USC’s dedication to broadening career experience for students. I speak for many other students when I say I applied for hundreds of jobs, and the market is getting more competitive each recruitment season. However, I constantly receive a myriad of emails and opportunities from various USC orgs to apply for various jobs, from internships to gaining hands-on practical experience right on campus! Viterbi also has an engineering career fair, which is less overwhelming than the one open to.There’s something out there for everyone, no matter how niche your interests are. Don’t lose hope after getting rejection emails, it happens to us all!
A Day in the Life
Back to the internship, working for an early-stage startup means that every day, I’m doing something new! Each day, I drive to our office, facing the Venice boardwalk. My mornings are filled with collaborating with a dynamic team of music industry professionals, all types of engineers, and creatives, all working together towards a shared vision. While the details of the app are still under wraps, I can share that my tasks ranged from conducting product design to implementing features in-app! The best part was having the chance to pitch my ideas and visions for the app, many of which were met with enthusiasm and approval.
After work, I usually find myself chatting with coworkers or exploring new restaurants and events on Abbot Kinney! Staying in LA meant that I could stay in touch with my local LA friends and explore the city further.
Outside of Work
Summer break is the time for every college student’s very well-deserved break, so after work, I tried to relax as much as I could. I flew back to New York to see my family and friends from home for a bit. I also had some weekend trips with friends not too far from LA, including Joshua Tree and Laguna Beach, which were super fun and within a driveable distance. Finally, I took a Linear Algebra & Differential Equations course to fulfill my very last math requirement! I’m sure some fellow engineers will disagree, but I’m glad to have them out of the way so I can focus on my core CS classes. 🙂
Looking Forward
As the summer ends, I’m excited to take the skills I’ve learned to school and my future jobs. I’m constantly trying to find ways to combine my love for tech with my creative passions, and this internship has inspired me to continue doing so and even to pursue working in the entertainment industry, something I never considered before. I can’t wait for what the future holds, and I am so unbelievably grateful for my experience, and my mentorship received at Feels.
