What is your next adventure?

Currently, I am interviewing. I'm eager to see where I will end up, but I guess ultimately my goal for what I want to do is to work in some sort of design or manufacturing environment. I’m targeting design and manufacturing roles, so anywhere where I can see a product being created. I've been lucky to experience some of that already while at Georgia Tech and while doing my internship. So, I know where I want to go. I want to create something that people can hold or touch or incorporate into like a plane or a rocket, which would be awesome.

What about your next adventure are you most looking forward to?

I’m definitely looking forward to, in the most basic sense, not having classes anymore. Beyond that, once I start the position, I’m really excited to dive back into personal projects. In school, I was involved in several clubs that I truly enjoyed, but now I’m ready to take things further—like buying my own 3D printer and creating something just because I feel inspired. I want to experiment with engineering in a creative way, without the pressure of deadlines or grades—just for the joy of the process.

I’m eager to reclaim the creativity that first drew me to Georgia Tech and really lean into that again. I also plan to explore mentoring opportunities, since I loved being part of GT2000 while I was here.

And also, I love talking to transfer students, new students, freshman, people who are interested in aerospace. It is one of my favorite things to do. So. if I can find a way to continue that while I'm working, that would be a dream.
 

Did you have any previous co-op, internship, or research experience in this area?

Absolutely, it started at Georgia Tech. The AE School has a Limerick program, and through that I did research with professors on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Basically, we were looking at how different fluids interact with things like windmills or airplane wings, depending on the assignment. That experience was amazing because it combined technical work with the opportunity to explore a completely different country. That was Summer 2023.

Then in Fall 2023, I packed my bags again and headed to Jacksonville, Florida for my first internship with GE Aerospace, Unison. I worked on rocket ignition systems, but my role was more like a systems or project engineer. It meant talking to multiple teams and translating that information for clients. I created test reports for ignition systems like the RL10, which is used in NASA’s Artemis program, and for Pratt & Whitney 500 and a few Blue Origin projects. I also handled experimental projects—if a client wanted to explore something new with our technology, I’d create the budget, test plan, and initial framework so the next person could hit the ground running after my three-month term. It was an incredible experience.

My second internship was in 2024 with Technology Service Corporation in Huntsville, Alabama—a military contractor with more of a startup vibe compared to GE. That’s where I really dove into design for manufacturability. I was the only intern in the mechanical engineering department, so when they said, “Here’s an idea—make it real,” it was up to me to figure it out. It taught me the difference between conceptual design and practical implementation—like realizing that making a simple box in CAD is easy, but figuring out how to assemble components inside that box is a whole other challenge. It was a blessing to learn that hands-on and see how defense requirements shape design decisions.

Then in the summer of 2025, I was lucky enough to return to GE Aerospace as an aerospace engines intern, working on their RISE program. They gave me incredible responsibilities—I worked on the compressor section of the RISE engine, and there are parts I helped design or modify. Knowing that when the RISE engine eventually flies, I can point to it and say, “I worked on that,” is the dream for any aerospace engineer. I also stepped back into project engineering for some key technology tests, handling budgeting and planning, and coordinating with teams in India and Germany—which meant 6 a.m. calls to keep everyone aligned. On top of that, I got involved in mentoring and served on the professional development committee for interns. Honestly, I tried to get my hands in as many things as possible. It was an amazing experience.

How did your educational experience at Georgia Tech help you to achieve your goals?

Georgia Tech provides a very good backbone or support system. It provides a lot of our classes that are very conceptual. You can't build a rocket engine for every single student at Georgia Tech as much as they want to.

We learn so many conceptual ideas in class, and honestly, in the moment it can feel overwhelming. I don’t think people realize how much they’ve actually absorbed until they get the chance to apply it during an internship. One story that came to mind was from my first internship. They introduced one of my projects and told me I’d be using an Instron machine—which is basically used for pull tests or experiments to determine material strength. My manager started explaining all these requirements, and I had this fun moment of saying, ’Actually, I know how that works. I’ve done that before in my 2610 lab at Tech’, that’s literally one of the experiments we do and write reports on. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I thought that was just an assignment, but this is real industry work.’

Later, when I moved into my engines role, I was working with a bunch of mechanical engineers, and there I was—the intern—explaining why a certain part of the wing needed to be curved a specific way or why a dihedral angle mattered. Those moments really boosted my confidence. They reminded me that even though classes can feel stressful, I’m absorbing so much valuable knowledge that genuinely applies in the real world.

What advice would you give to an underclassman who would like to follow the same path?

Do not underestimate yourself. I came in as a transfer student. I did not come into Georgia Tech as a first-year. I started at Georgia State as a physics major, but I knew that I wanted to do engineering. I knew that I wanted to create something that hopefully went in the sky at some point, whether that was, our sky or some other planet's sky. What I told my students in GT2000 is, ‘You are surrounded by people who are high achievers, but you are also a high achiever. You got into Tech.’ 

Create a support system around you to help you learn. It’s also okay to put your neck out. Even if you have no experience, your classes can become your experience. Your clubs can become your experience. It's so important to have the confidence in yourself to know that you are intelligent and whatever expectations you have for yourself, or whatever expectations your professors have for you, you will surpass them. 

Also, it's crucial too, even if you don't think you're going to get the role, put your name in anyways. Rejections are a part of life.