Elizabeth was a process engineering intern for Big West Oil during Spring Term 2023.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I worked with a process engineer at an oil refinery. I was given many projects with the goal of either improving the process or supporting the other employees at the refinery.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I learned a lot about how to communicate with other people in the company. I talked with people from almost every department and worked with many of them on projects. This taught me a lot about how to communicate with others, especially other people who are in very different positions than I am.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
I always thought that I would work at an oil refinery when I graduated. However, this internship has caused me to start looking at other options as well and explore other fields.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
I loved that I was able to gain some real-world experience from this internship. It is very fulfilling to work on projects that could really make a difference for the company you are working for. This got me really excited for my future jobs where I can continue to make a difference through my work.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would recommend this internship to others because I gained a lot of valuable knowledge and experience from it. Also, it allowed me to explore one of my options for the future and learn what I want to look for in a company once I graduate.