Completing an Internship: Infrastructure Analyst Intern at GE Vernova(5 pts) - Class of 2027

Working as an Infrastructure Analyst intern at GE Vernova opened me up to a completely new career path, and played a major role in shaping a career focus on network architecture, IT infrastructure, and systems that prioritize efficiency, security, and impact. Before starting the internship, I was sure that I only wanted a career within Cybersecurity and only saw the internship as something that would help me get experience. However, after months of networking with current technology professionals, and getting hands-on tech experience, I found a new passion. 

One thing that this internship reminded me is that it is not too late to discover new things. In the tech industry, fast-paced career planning is pushed so much that I believed I needed to pick a path and stick to it or I would get behind the competition. However, actually talking to these tech professionals with decades under their belt in the tech industry helped remind me that it is acceptable to be flexible, even in this face-paced industry. Not only did I connect with experienced professionals, but also being able to talk to Master and Graduate interns that shared their paths. They told me about the mistakes they made, what they wished they'd done differently, and their current aspirations allowed me to see that my career isn't a race against my peers, but it's about finding what is best for me and what the unique skills I can bring to a company. Beyond the experience I was able to gain on the job, the people I was able to meet and have access to was by far the most valuable thing I got out of this internship.

By Rayne Blasingame