As summer winds down and senior year at USC Viterbi begins, I’ve had some time to reflect on the journey that has brought me all is way. This past summer, I had the opportunity to return to Deloitte, working in consulting with a focus on enterprise security for a healthcare solutions manufacturing client.
Having grown up in Chicago, being able to work in my hometown made the experience even more special. This is especially considering the school years away from home. Not only did I get to deepen my professional skills and learn from industry leaders, but I also got to spend time with family and rediscover the city that raised me from an adult perspective.
This was my third summer interning with Deloitte, and each year has brought new challenges, new mentors, and a clearer understanding of where I see myself after graduation. This summer in particular, I had the chance to contribute to meaningful projects that touched real-world problems in cybersecurity and business operations. It was rewarding to see how the analytical and systems thinking skills I’ve developed throughout my academic career has translated into solving real world cases in the corporate world.
One of the most fulfilling parts of this internship was connecting with other interns from a variety of universities and building a community of mentors who continue to support my professional growth. Despite being an intern, I was given the space to contribute ideas, speak up in portions of meetings, and make an impact in client work.
Looking ahead to senior year, I’m excited to truly soak up every moment of my final year—whether that’s late-night study sessions, hanging out with friends on campus, or cheering on the Trojans at football games.
To any younger Viterbi students (or prospective students) reading this: don’t underestimate the power of persistence, building strong relationships, and staying open to learning. Internships like this don’t just give you something to put on a résumé—they help you discover what you’re passionate about and lend to experiences thatll open you to a new world of experiences.
To one more amazing year at USC—and the exciting journey beyond!
