My time at Dewberry can be summed up in one word: unforgettable. In November 2010 I began working with Dewberry as an architectural intern in the Fairfax office. I was instantly impressed by the employees and their obvious dedication to producing high quality design in a high pressure situation. The architecture team trusted my skills as a recent graduate from Virginia Tech University (bachelor’s degree in architecture, May 2010), and offered me many opportunities to prove myself.

For nine months I worked on a variety of projects, which varied by building type, scale, and client. I was challenged with BIM drafting and rendering tasks for a federal office building and courthouse—my first experience with a government project. As this project began to slow down, I was offered the opportunity to work on a feasibility study for a local university. I worked closely with Marlene Shade, associate principal for the architecture group, and was grateful for the amount of time and energy she devoted towards helping me throughout the length of this project. I also worked with Marlene on a local fire and rescue training center, which allowed me to understand the administrative tasks necessary to get a LEED^® project underway. And finally, my last few weeks with Dewberry included training in construction administration.

Interning at Dewberry was also my first time working for a national architecture, engineering, and management consulting firm. I had worked with small-scale firms in the past, and took what I could from those experiences. However, by working with a national firm I was able to see how different offices adjust to the region they serve while simultaneously upholding the values of the overall company. For one month, I worked in Dewberry’s office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team in Tulsa welcomed me with open arms, and treated me like a guest in their own home. I’ll never forget the wonderful staff, the mid-west culture and pride, and the amazing hot dogs from Tulsa’s own Dog House restaurant.

Even though my time with the Fairfax office has come to a close, I will not be leaving Dewberry altogether. Come this October, I’ll transfer to Dewberry’s Boston office, where I’ll work as a part-time architecture intern while also attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a graduate student and research assistant in the architecture master’s degree program, my focus will be on Islamic architecture. I’m looking forward to this new chapter of my life and will forever keep with me the knowledge and experiences I gained from my recent internship.