I’ve had a great interest in renewable energy since my seventh grade science teacher taught us about how we currently depend on a finite pool of resources, and that there have recently been significant advances in renewable energies such as solar or wind energy. I realized that if I could contribute to turning the idealized dream world, where 95% or more of the world’s energy needs come from renewable sources, into a reality, I would find satisfaction and self-fulfillment in my job, career, and life. My interest in alternative energy is a major reason why I decided to pursue an engineering degree, and I want to understand more about the field through internships and research experiences as well as later college classes.
If I’m accepted into the Illinois Renewable Energy PIRE Project, I believe that I’ll gain very valuable insight into not just the way research in renewable energy is conducted, but also some of my other current interests, such as energy conversion systems and computational science. I believe that I will leave with a significantly clearer view of what I would or would not love to specialize in later on during my education and my engineering career. I also hope to learn indispensable skills and experiences that are taught in college classrooms, such as operating certain lab equipment or software, data analysis, technical communication, and most importantly, experience working with people of different levels of experience and different technical and cultural backgrounds.
People who really understand me as a person know that saying I enjoy meeting others with very different backgrounds from myself is an understatement. My parents and I are avid international travellers, and adapting our behaviors to new cultures and trying to better understand them consistently ranks among the top highlights of our trips. My 10-day solo trip to Japan is a strong contender for my favorite vacation; since then, I’ve really wanted to spend time studying in Japan because I fell in love with various unique aspects of the country, such as the juxtaposition of historical and futuristic objects, the amazing food that emphasizes the ingredients’ quality and freshness, the upbeat music that often uses traditional instruments, and much more.
127 our experts are availableright now
Spending two whole months here would allow me to absorb and understand the culture in more detail as well as form connections with my colleagues and supervisors during my time there. We live in a highly interdisciplinary and globalized world; learning to work and forming connections with people across the world is instrumental to career development, and this program would introduce me to professionals in Japan and around the world. That would be very valuable for me because I’m highly interested in potentially working outside of the United States after I get my degrees.
If offered this internship, I will use the opportunity to explore my interest in renewable energy and other fields, obtain skills not taught in classes, start building an international network, and better understand Japanese language and culture.
