Students talk summer plans, learning outside the classroom
I recently connected with Aliya Trapp, a senior studying internal affairs and ethnic studies with a minor in Spanish, Caden McVey, a junior studying computer and electrical engineering, and Mallory Palizzi, a junior studying chemical engineering, to talk about their various experiences over summer break. They share some lessons learned and advice for students who are looking to take advantage of their time over summer to accomplish goals. Here are some takeaways from our conversation.
Q: How have you spent your summers since being at CU Boulder?
Aliya: The summer going into junior year was one of the most magical summers of my life. I worked as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion intern consultant for a bank in Denver where I learned an immense amount about what it means to work in the corporate world. It was one of the first times I was able to apply my knowledge from my studies to real world situations and put theory into practice. It was incredibly fulfilling to put my passion to work in a way where I felt like I was truly making a difference. However, this was not without learning to deal with setbacks. I learned a lot about the politics of the corporate world as well as the battle of encouraging people to overcome performativity regarding DEI and putting that into practice. It was a challenge, but I learned so much from that challenge and responded to it with everything I could. I talked more about that experience on the .
I also spent an immense amount of time working in the garden with my two favorite people, Carl and Mary. Carl is an 84 year old man who is one of the most intelligent and hilariously sarcastic people I know. His knowledge of gardening is incredible, and I learn something new every time I go over, which is a lot. When he has time between telling some silly jokes, he will give me a history quiz or drop a life lesson that only an 84 year old man could give you. Mary has been one of my best friends since I started Boulder, and I have spent every summer and school year working with her in her house and her garden. She hired me to help her with things that she was unable to do any longer, and we immediately hit it off. She has traveled the world and you wouldn’t believe the amount of ‘best friends’ she has that have accomplished the most incredible things. She has such an incredible garden and we share such a love for plants and providing them with love and care. Both Carl and Mary have become incredibly important and influential members of my Boulder family, and I could not imagine summers without them.
This was also a summer of hiking for me as well. I committed to hiking two new trails a week, and boy does Boulder and Golden have so much to offer! I made sure to jump in the creek pretty much once a day, and my friends and I made picnicking outside a priority.
Caden: During my first summer as a freshman at CU, I applied to a couple of internships and contacted some professors about research opportunities, but to no avail. Most people responded that I needed more experience in the respective fields. Instead, I helped my dad on job sites for his cabinetry business. Luckily, my sophomore year summer turned out much better as the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) offered me my top research choice to join the CU Bioastronautics Matrix Mission. This spring, I also got an extension on my current internship at Tesla for my junior year summer.
Mallory: My most recent summer consisted of working in the Boulder Experimental Electronics and Manufacturing (BEEM) Laboratory on east campus conducting research with a graduate student. I got this position through the SPUR program and the lab decided to keep me on into the academic school year and I still work for them today! I definitely still had time to travel and spend time with family and friends which helped balance the hours spent in the lab.
Q: What have you learned during summer activities that you wouldn’t have learned in the classroom?
Aliya: A lot of the summer activities I participated in taught me about capabilities I had that I didn't even know. I have always been a pretty rigorous student, and I think it became easy to base all of my capabilities and success on how I was doing in school. However, every single one of my summers has taught me different things about myself and what I am able to do in the real world. I have learned about my ability to connect with others. I have learned about my ability to carry myself and take care of myself in new places and situations. I have learned that who I am is not determined by my educational successes.
Caden: Classrooms do a good job teaching organization and critical thinking skills in addition to the respective course's content. However, after trying out research and industry, I have learned that interpersonal skills and attention to detail are valued above all else. Establishing a strong connection with colleagues and delivering STEM-related information concisely and accurately are skills that workplace professionals have perfected. Only answer a question if you have tested and proven your findings. Most importantly, asking questions whenever you have an ounce of doubt is the best action any engineer can take.
Mallory: Working in a lab opened my eyes to how research actually works. Being in the lab as part of a class does not show the unpredictability of real research. Things are never cut and dry as they typically are in a lab class. I was forced to apply knowledge I have gained in the classroom and then, take it a step further. I was tasked with real problem solving situations that required creative solutions and I don’t think I could have learned that in any classroom. I also learned the hard truth that sometimes—things do not work out quite the way you think. I had to come to terms with the fact that the hours I spend working through a problem may turn out to have no answer. But the most valuable part of that is being able to take what you did learn and adapt the next experiment.
Q: How do you plan to make the most out of this upcoming summer?
Aliya: I recently had an amazing opportunity fall into my hands to work with a vineyard who farms in Napa. They practice sustainable farming and create beautiful, organic and sugar free wine, which can be hard to find in the states. Their mission is to create connections through wine. They want to move away from the pretentious nature of the wine industry and create spaces for every person and every community to be a part of good food and wine. They are incredibly passionate about working with organizations they believe in. They specifically want to help bolster those organizations and people that are doing incredibly important work in the South. I am excited to be a part of the movement to create change and progress through food and wine, two of my favorite things!
Caden: I am fortunate to have received another internship offer from Tesla for this upcoming summer. Although I have to take two summer classes to stay on track with my degree plan, Tesla has agreed to a part-time internship, so I can learn from both school and them. I am currently on the electrical engineering team. However, I will join their software engineering team in the summer to better understand which computer engineering branch I'd like to pursue.
Mallory: I plan on reaching out to the companies I talked to last year and asking about internship or career opportunities for the summer. I plan on taking the skills I have learned in the lab and broadening my knowledge to a more industry centered position. My plan B is to travel to Dublin and take a few classes through CU’s Study Abroad program.
Q: Any advice for other students on taking advantage of the summer months?
Aliya: Get outside! I cannot emphasize enough how my experiences in nature and the outdoors have enforced humility upon me in ways I could never have imagined. Start to brainstorm what you think you may want to do with your future and experiment with those ideas during the summer. It will help you discover what will work for you and what will most likely not. I think in college it can be difficult to prioritize your own health and happiness over outside pressures. Summer is a time where you can take advantage of opportunities you may not have during the school year. Explore your passions in the summer as it will help you find your balance for the future. Ground yourself in something that speaks to you, and continue to work with that. I know personally, as I progressed through my college years, the fear that I would be ‘stuck’ with a job that did not make me happy only grew. However, my experiences in the summer, learning about all of my different capabilities, helped me put myself out there. As cheesy as it sounds, once I learned that if I kept working hard and stayed true to myself, things really began to fall into place. One of my best friends always tells me, “Future Aliya already has it all figured out.” I try to live by that these days. Live in your present, constantly work toward growth and achieving happiness, take the storms as they come and hopefully life will fall into place. Also, find a garden or grow your own in the meantime!
Caden: Try always to have something going for you that not only looks good on your resume but benefits you as an academic. If you find yourself out of luck when looking for summer opportunities, self-teach yourself a skill or pursue an interest you otherwise wouldn't have had time for. Not all activities have to be academic either; if you are passionate about something and wish to pursue it, then chase what you're going after. Interesting hobbies create exciting people.
Mallory: I would highly advise others to take advantage of all of the opportunities CU has to offer for the summer. Reaching out to Career Services or talking to professors is a great way to find out about all of the positions available to students. I know it may feel overwhelming but stay persistent and contact as many people as you can.