A summer internship is an opportunity for students to gain a well-rounded understanding of a career. Our firm’s program aims to do just that, as our interns take advantage of hands-on project experiences, learn technical skills, and network with industry experts. For National Intern Day, we asked our interns about the pivotal moments and experiences that they will cherish and the lessons learned that they will carry forward into their professional careers.

What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment or Project with the Internship Program?

My proudest accomplishment is gaining insight and hands-on experience with a number of engineering programs. AutoCAD, Bluebeam REVU, ProjectWise, and MicroStation were programs I had little to no prior experience in, and now, I am excited to say I not only learned how to use them, but I was able to assist my team in their projects.

My proudest accomplishment with the internship program was being able to make the connections between paper plans and real-life projects. Going to the site of the project with the plans and seeing how they're similar or different furthered my understanding of mechanical engineering. I'm able to look at the ductwork in real life and relay that properly on a plan. It was a full circle moment and an experience you don't get in school. It was very satisfying.

I worked with Dewberry this past spring and summer, and I'm really proud of how much I was able to work with HEC-RAS, a hydraulic modeling software. One of my projects took two months and it felt really great to finish something I had worked on from start to finish!

When You Reflect on the First Day of Your Internship Compared to Now, How Do You Feel You’ve Grown?

Three years ago, when I started my first summer here at Dewberry, I wasn't sure if civil engineering was the right degree for me. Now, I'm sure of myself and can't picture myself doing anything else.

I found a lot of my introductory courses for engineering to be extremely difficult, and it made me feel very insecure about my major and made me want to stop pursuing engineering. It can also be a very isolating major, because, a lot of times, you are working alone, and as a woman of color in a male-dominated space, it made me feel singled out even more. Throughout school, I always questioned if I was good enough to make it as an engineer in the real world. When I first started this internship, it felt like I had imposter syndrome. But now, I am very confident in the tasks they give me. This internship has taught me to be more confident in myself and that, even though there have been hard times in the past, it is important to trust yourself and your capabilities and never give up.

When I think of my first day, I remember feeling very underqualified and out of the loop. However, after being here for almost two months, I now realize that I am qualified and can contribute to the firm as well as understand that where everyone is now isn't where they started. I feel like now I'm very secure and confident and that I can speak my mind and others will gain something valuable from it.

Throughout my internship, I have gained insight into what it really means to be an engineer. I have learned a lot on the technical side as well as developed stronger communication and leadership skills through working with and learning from my peers.

What Are Some of Your Most Memorable Moments with Your Fellow Interns or Teammates?

I'm grateful for all of the days I spent completing fieldwork, since I both learned about the construction process of installing a drilled shaft and bonded with my team members.

Winning the competition for the “Reimagine in 2043” project was a good moment for the team. Also, being able to connect with the interns in the Fairfax office through our work planning the parks proposal has been great. Being able to go out there and have the final presentation with all of them is a privilege, and I'm very excited to get to hang out with them.

Going to NeoCon and meeting up with other interior designers from other Dewberry offices was such a fun experience that I will never forget. I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to go and experience the convention and also network within the company with individuals I hadn't gotten the chance to meet before.

If You Could Give A Word of Advice to Yourself on the First Day of Your Summer Internship, What Would it Be?

I would tell myself to never fear asking questions. Asking questions leads to education, and you are always far better off asking too many questions and doing things correctly than not asking enough and making errors. It shows your interest and the desire to be an expert at what you do!

Time flies! The internship goes by super quickly, so make sure to take lots of notes and ask about the things you want to see because your team can help you learn more about all the projects and departments that Dewberry has to offer. They can even connect you with other departments.

Not everything is work. It is just as important to develop personal relationships with your colleagues so that there is no feeling of being overwhelmed by any workload since you'll be having fun doing it.

A word of advice I would give to myself on the first day of my internship would be to have an open mind and enjoy your time this summer. An internship gives you the opportunity to grow as a person, so make the most of your time because this is an experience that will be very valuable for a future career.

To hear from more of our interns, check out our Instagram stories on National Intern Day, Thursday, July 27.