What was I up to this summer? Exploring the Pacific Northwest! I worked as a Software Engineer Intern at HP, developing embedded software in Vancouver, WA (right across the river from Portland, OR).
Building Community
The highlight of my experience was building friendships with the interns at the site. From lunches, Trader Joe’s snack runs, and weekend adventures, I had so much fun connecting with the cohort of interns.
The Internship
I was also able to grow as an engineer and collaborate with the team, taking concepts from my favorite electrical and computer engineering classes to tackle my work and develop my learning throughout the internship. It was also so easy to walk around the office and ask what people were working on, a great way to find mentors and be involved in fun activities (like printer tear-downs!).
Pacific Northwest
This summer was also a time to explore the surrounding area. As a fruit-lover, I made weekly trips to the farmers market and found the best peaches and cherries of the season. I also spent my weekends hiking, with my two favorites being Silver Falls (with waterfalls that you can walk behind) and the Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier National Park.
My time in the Vancouver and Portland area flew by and I can’t believe classes will already be starting again soon. Even though we said our goodbyes for the summer, I’ll be staying in touch with my intern friends and look forward to my last year as an undergrad at USC!
