Congratulations on landing such a prestigious internship with Tesla!
Thank you! It felt good, but beyond that, it felt satisfying. I have wanted to be an engineer since as far back as I can remember. During my undergrad in India, I remember really enjoying the TV show Silicon Valley—maybe because it was a good show or maybe because I looked up to being there. With: All my childhood, I spent hours watching documentaries and reading about the evolution and history of Silicon Valley, from companies like HP to Apple. I never thought I would have an opportunity to work at the epicenter of tech.
What did you learn from the internship?
This internship helped me gain business perspective, like the scale of manufacturing. It’s hard to imagine what 3,000 cars per week means until you see them in a parking lot. I also learned a lot about how these fast-paced tech giants operate on the inside. After this internship, I know that I want to work in the automotive sector.
Web Extra!
The tech scene in the valley can feel dauting to an outsider. Thoughts like “I’m not skilled enough” or thinking that the Silicon Valley engineers are in some way better, extra-talented, or that they know something you don’t are common. Learning that those thoughts are not true is probably the most important takeaways for me. Steve Jobs once mentioned something similar in an interview: “Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people who were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again.”
How did UTA help prepare you to earn the internship?
UTA’s Computer Science and Engineering Department has some amazing but less well-known courses. Select your courses right, and the University will help train you. The variety of subjects I could take as part of my coursework has helped me become a well-rounded engineer.
Before your internship, you were a graduate research assistant in the FabLab, right?
That’s right! And was very excited to join them back again this fall. My job at the FabLab revolves around keeping all the lab equipment up and running. The FabLab offers various tools and machines like 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and more for learners, artists, and do-it-yourself crafters. FabLab is a fun place to work at; I like everything about my job there. Art and science have so much in common, and I like how my job at the FabLab exposes me to both things. Everyone at UTA should know about the FabLab and what an amazing place it is!
Web Extra!
The ideology behind FabLab is very in line with that Steve Jobs quote. We want to empower makers to change and influence the world around them and in the process, we will provide the tools, help and guidance to make it happen. Everyone at UTA should know about FabLab and what an amazing place it is!
What’s next for you after graduation?
This has been and will continue to be a very eventful and busy year for me, so after graduation, I will take a big break and visit my family in India.
