Engineering with a Dash of Service
Ariyan S., Princeton University summer intern, reveals how working at a non-profit organization has led to professional development and translates to his engineering education.
I began my 10-week internship with GlamourGals after Memorial Day. I recall taking the subway into the Financial District, my father joining me to ensure I knew how to navigate the city. He bought me coffee at the Starbucks across from the office and then sent me on my way. Upon entering GG National, I was warmly greeted by Amanda and the rest of the team. As I started to tackle various projects and assignments, I immediately picked up on various job skills. Joined by the other interns, this GG experience unraveled into an unforgettable summer.
GlamourGals stood out to me for many reasons: the hot pink motif, the focus on manicures and makeovers, and, most importantly, its mission. As a Muslim, Bengali-American, I grew up in a culture that holds reverence towards the elderly. We would hesitate to send our parents and grandparents to senior care centers. The GlamourGals Foundation’s goal to end senior loneliness reminded me of my roots.
Interning at GlamourGals comes with many merits. An external factor that I enjoy is its location in the Financial District. With a large abundance of restaurants and a beautiful view of the East River from the piers, lunchtime has been a blast (do not overlook the importance of quality lunchtime!). GG National’s office is an inviting and embracing environment; yes, we’re busy managing a multitude of tasks, but there is always time for jokes and giggles. Amanda likes to ask us a “Question of the Day,” we celebrate events such as “Mac and Cheese Day” and “National French Fries Day”, and we get excited over the company’s custom pens. This may come off as unconventional, but the nurturing working environment is beneficial and allows us to stay on top of things.
Working with GlamourGals has taught me so much about operating a nonprofit organization, most of which can be applied to tech companies and the corporate world. Throughout the summer, I’ve learned to write emails and communicate with partnering companies, manage data on Excel spreadsheets, and present project proposals for my own ideas. As an intern, I speak with members of the GlamourGals Advisory Council. These mentor meetings gave lots of insight and reassurance about the diverse trajectories through college and our career paths. Making TikToks allowed me to express creativity and step out of my comfort zone by trying something new. I truly believe the tasks I’ve handled while working for GlamourGals were meaningful and impactful.
As I come near the end of my time with GlamourGals, the “liquid gold” that I’ve acquired is applying the values involved with community service to the problem-solving methods I would use as an engineer. Nonprofit organizations have an admirable dedication and drive. They aim to fulfill their goal with a positively niched approach (primarily the manicures and makeovers). This resonates with the manner in which engineers completely cater their design to their clients. In the future, I hope to work as an engineer with the same sense of purpose that GlamourGals has towards reducing senior isolation. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from a company that cultivates compassionate leaders.
