Friday, August 1, 2014
By:
As I return to the school year routine, I think back to the wonderful memories I had this summer. I couldn’t imagine doing anything better with my time. The SPS internship program was truly amazing and opened my eyes to the possibilities a person has graduating with a physics major. From the research to the tours we got to take, everything was incredible.
I learned numerous skills throughout my internship that I will carry with me. I taught myself how to perform simulations on COMSOL multiphysics software, as well as learned the importance of networking. I improved my presentation skills and learned to cut the fat of the presentation and focus on the important subject matter. I learned that research is an unhurried process that takes many years to complete, and although you may only contribute a verse in that project it will help push the project towards conclusion.
In addition to skills, I will miss the people that helped me along the way this summer. Dr. Suehle, my group leader, Arvind, my mentor, Dr. Ken, Christina, Dr. Darwin, Toni, Kendra, Joe and other employees I got to connect with over the summer. I enjoyed the dynamic that they brought to the office at both NIST and SPS ; their personalities livened up my day and made me feel comfortable interning there. I will miss talking to them the most and working alongside them. They are fantastic people, and I am happy to have met them this summer.
Some of my most beloved memories come from outside of work. The other interns made living in D.C. enjoyable, and made for an unforgettable experience. It was amazing how quickly we bonded with each other; it was a dynamic unique to our group, and I loved every minute of it. I wish I could relive the summer in D.C. and spend a little more time with this summer’s interns.
All in all, I have no complaints about the summer. SPS put on a great experience for all the interns to enjoy. I will treasure the memories and the connections I made with the people I got the opportunity to meet over the ten weeks. I will carry my new knowledge and the skills with me to my next adventure in life. I am truly grateful for the opportunity I received and the resources I can put to use now. It will truly be a memory I will never forget.
Thank you for the extraordinary summer.
Benjamin Perez