Relationships, Community, and Letting Passion Guide You
Building genuine relationships with mentors throughout my education is what led to the three internships I had and ultimately to my current full-time job. When you are genuinely curious or passionate about something, follow that drive. Strive to make a difference in your community. Not only can this open doors to opportunities within your community, but those qualities also shine through to employers and help you stand out as a candidate in any field.
The experiences you gain from forming meaningful connections, pursuing work you care about, and creating positive change in your community will very often serve you better in interviews, networking conversations,, and other professional settings than the “impressive” or “competitive” things you might think you should be doing.
If you’re discouraged by the hundreds of internship applications you’ve submitted that have gone nowhere (like I was), take a step back and look around. Identify the problems that need solving in our community and the resources available right here at UW–there are plenty of both!!
Academics – Informatics: Data Science, Interdisciplinary Honors, Class of 2026
Interests – Tech/Data/Gaming, Non-Profit/Social Justice/Education
Identities – She/Her
