- Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.
My STEP project consisted of myself having the opportunity to determine what I want to do as a future career. I always have had an interest in space and rockets. This past summer I interned with Aerojet Rocketdyne for 9 weeks in the Rocket City of Huntsville, AL as a quality engineer.
- What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?
Before I participated in this internship I was lost as to what I wanted to do as a future career as an aerospace engineering major. I had no idea what kind of industry I want to work for or what I want to do and not do as a career. This summer I was able to figure out what I want to do in the future by talking to other interns, co-workers, and by learning about the different opportunities I have with my degree.
After talking with other people, throughout the summer, I have been able to narrow down what I want to do in my future. This is crucial as I will start applying for jobs within the next month or two. This also benefitted me as in my final year at Ohio State, I will be completing my Capstone Projects. I will be able to use my industry-learned knowledge and bring this into my projects, while also being able to mold them into my new interests.
During this internship, I also learned about how companies work regarding funding, timelines, and most importantly teamwork. These are important aspects of any project and being able to now understand them, based on my experience, is a valuable skill to have.
- What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?
At Aerojet Rocketdyne, the intern program was very inclusive with an event occurring at least once every two weeks. These events allowed networking within the company and being able to meet other interns at the Huntsville location. Intern Week at Aerojet was incredible as we were given multiple presentations with speakers across all the programs and locations of the company. Aerojet covers both main sectors of aerospace: the defensive and space side. Being able to learn about the different locations and what each does was beneficial as it allowed me to start thinking about where I could potentially live in the future. During intern week, Aerojet brought astronaut James “Vegas” Kelly to speak to us. To hear from him was inspirational and motivational as he has seen the world from a different point of view. Outer Space.
The relationship I was able to build with my mentor and manager was beneficial in a multitude of ways. I was pushed this summer in ways that allowed me to break out of my comfort zone and grow intellectually, socially, and professionally. My mentor and manager always provided guidance and motivation when I was confused or stuck at a roadblock. There was a tremendous amount of satisfaction when I had their support when I was presenting my projects to different engineers and committees throughout the summer.
One aspect that held me together, socially, was interacting with the other interns. I lived with two other Aerojet interns this Summer in Huntsville. It felt as if I was a freshman in college again meeting new people from across the country, but the only difference was that each intern I met had the same focus and goal. Each of us is interested in the space industry and making an impact with that fundamental desire to learn.
Each week we would hang out and do something new in Huntsville whether it be an outdoor activity, night event, or simply getting ice cream. Being able to learn about each of their backgrounds and make a solid group of friends is what made this summer go by fast. Most of us were not from Alabama, so no one knew anyone making the desire to make new social connections a necessity.
On the topic of exploring Huntsville, being able to visit the U.S Space & Rocket Center was one of the best things I did this Summer. Having an incredible passion for rockets, it was a defining moment to see these rockets with their true size and might. It put into perspective why I am studying aerospace engineering and what I could work on in the future. Possibly one of the rockets I work on in the future will make it into this same museum.
- Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?
Aerojet Rocketdyne is one of the most recognizable rocket companies in the industry. Having the opportunity to intern at this company is one I will forever be grateful for. The skills I learned this summer will not only benefit me as I complete my Capstone Projects this year but also in my future career. I not only learned new software skills and strengthened my technical skills, but I also strengthened my presentation and communication skills. These are critical as being an engineer you must know how to communicate to everyone at all levels and change your dialogue for whether you’re in communication with another engineer, politician, or investor.