As always, the intern soils it…. But in our field, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 😎 I recently had an extremely inspiring day with one of our summer interns, Trebor Moreno showing him the ropes (and rods) of density testing for the soils beneath a future senior housing development. Trebor, a sophomore and fellow Oredigger from the Colorado School of Mines, is a civil engineering major who's balancing a tough academic schedule, being a student-athlete wrestler, and working a full-time job. One thing that blew me away? Trebor's dedication and hustle—he's taking summer classes like physics 2 (which we all know is NOT easy and something I took my senior year) and chemistry 2 to get ahead, working full-time with us while completing certifications, all while training for his next wrestling season. The real highlight was his infectious enthusiasm and attitude - especially his knack for asking insightful questions, and his readiness to dive into new challenges. This guy definitely has a bright future ahead of him and is going to be one helluva engineer! I promised Trebor I'd share his story and that I would ask my network this question to help navigate his future career: What advice would you give to your younger self when you were just starting out as an intern? My two cents? Be open to a world of opportunities. You don't need to have it all figured out right away. Embrace the journey, explore diverse paths, and discover what truly aligns with your strengths and passions.♥️ Please don’t hesitate to connect or reach out to Trebor, he is looking to network and get immersed into our industry!! *Note that the views expressed on this page are mine only and do not reflect or represent the views of Braun Intertec Corporation* #mentorship #construction #internship #network #engineering
Never stop asking questions and seize every opportunity to work with engineers more experienced you. Push yourself past your comfort zone and know that good things don’t come easily. Befriend contractors and get loads of field experience.
Never be afraid to speak up if something doesn't seem right on a job site. Ask questions ... Be receptive to feedback. There is something to learn and ways to grow available everyday! Don't be afraid to lean into something new, but seriously, you can't go wrong with a Mines degree. It's an excellent foundation for whatever work you pursue!
Negative experiences are just as valuable as positive experiences. While interning you should try to explore as many different niches of Engineering as possible. Some you won't like or take interest in, that negative experience isn't time wasted - it just helps you focus your energy in other directions you're more excited about.
Be curious Trebor Moreno . Ask a lot of questions and explore opportunities. Understanding why you are doing the testing gives your work meaning.
physics II pushed me to my limit 😂. I have a strong belief that any mind can have meaningful input. Don't be afraid to speak up in a room full of experts. There's a balance, and listening and learning is the standard early on but don't let that cadence build an anxiety to speak up when you want to.
It's important to learn what you do not like about a job. You have to do what you love and the only way to figure that out is to try all kinds of things that don't work.
Find a way past the fear- fear of making a mistake, asking a dumb question, speaking up, introducing yourself to others first, talking to trades people on job sites...
Keep at it Trebor. This is your moment of gaining knowledge and inspiration.
Great advice Hannah Thomas. Seems like he's already willing to work hard at what he does, so that was going to be my advice. I'll also go with try as many different internship opportunities as possible to see what fits best. 🕶
Geological Engineer @ Stantec | Mining - Site Assessment and Remediation | WIM Denver | DEI Advocate | LGBTQIA+
3moBe curious! Ask questions, even the ones you think are "stupid". All knowledge is valuable. Be observant, you never know when you might have to draw on past experiences. There's never a task you should feel you are above. You can learn something new in everything you do, no matter how simple. Ask drillers, equipment operators, and contractors questions! You'll be amazed at how much knowledge they have, even if they don't hold a degree in the subject - there's no knowledge quite like the kind you get through first hand experience. Be a good team member, help out others if you have time, keep people around you safe, be kind, and listen with intention. And always keep good records in the field! Nothing impresses me more than someone who keeps detailed field notes, borehole logs, install records, etc. Most importantly - find something you love about the work you do each day. It could be the opportunity to travel to a new place, appreciating great weather, connecting with colleagues, eating a really delicious burrito, or even just having the opportunity to learn. If you can find something to appreciate each day, it makes the work you do feel truly fulfilling!