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July 17, 2017
DDC College Interns Speak to High School Interns
On Monday, July 17 2017, the NYC Department of Design and Construction College Interns spoke to High School interns about their educational and professional experiences. The DDC High School Summer Internship Program provides an opportunity for High School students to immerse themselves in various career opportunities in the fields of architecture, engineering, building trades, public administration, business administration and information technology. Our high school interns heard from DDC Summer College Intern Oluwatosin Sanusi (Tosin), College Aide Suellen Fonseca, and Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Summer College Interns Meraj Choudhury, and Joyce Chan.
Tosin, a Chemical Engineering major at Columbia University, gave a personal account of her transition from attending High School in Nigeria, to attending college in New York. She spoke about the importance of perseverance, and noted that even through challenges may come up at any given moment it is up to each student to create an environment where he or she can thrive. In addition, Tosin also encouraged the interns to surround themselves with people who can provide a solid foundation for emotional support.
DDC College Aide Suellen Fonseca, a Speech Pathology major at St. John’s University, and a graduate of St. Michael’s Academy High School, shared her career and educational experiences. She spoke about her passion for education and her goal of become a speech pathologist with a concentration in early childhood education. Suellen reflected on her continuing education process, and encouraged the high school interns to pursue their fields of interest.
DYCD Summer College Intern Meraj Choudhury, a mechanical engineering student at the NYU School of Engineering, and a graduate of the Manhattan Center High School urged the interns to take an active role in college. He spoke about the struggles he encountered during his freshman year, and his desire to overcome those challenges and persevere. Meraj also described the changes he has observed in his level of maturity and confidence, as well as his successes during his later college years. Meraj encouraged the interns to keep themselves busy by participating in various projects and clubs in college.
DYCD Summer College Intern Joyce Chan, a mechanical engineering student at Boston University, spoke about her personal college application process and stressed the need for students to be more open minded when applying to college. She informed the interns not to limit themselves and to take advantage of the many opportunities available.
The overarching message from the college students was that challenges are simply a part of one’s life journey, and it is important to learn from one’s mistakes and setbacks.
