Catarina Andrade, a rising junior majoring in mechanical engineering at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic University, is completing an internship as a pavement evaluation intern at the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Department of Transportation.
An encounter at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic Universityβs Career and Internship Fair drove Catarina Andrade to a summer internship that sees her working with engineering-related departments at the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Department of Transportation.
The mechanical engineering major is a pavement evaluation intern and primarily works with the group of professionals responsible for road resurfacing at the agencyβs offices in Bartow, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³». Other technical groups she has worked with at FDOT include geotechnical, laboratory, quality systems, and earthwork.
βI really like all the work Iβm doing here and being able to learn so much about what goes into creating and maintaining safe roadways,β said Andrade, a rising junior. βThey want me to have an idea of all the groups and all we do here. It has been very fun.β
Originally from SΓ£o Paulo, Brazil, Andrade is a graduate of Ronald Reagan Senior High School in Doral, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³». She said she is grateful for the career and educational opportunities she has great access to at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly.
βI decided to go to 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly because it is focused on STEM, and I wanted to have smaller classes with more contact with the professors,β she said. βI wouldnβt be here with this great opportunity if it wasnβt for 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly. My decision to come here was definitely the right one.β
As her summer internship progresses toward its August end date, Andrade said she is hoping to continue working with FDOT during the fall 2023 semester.
βIβm learning lots about roadways, but Iβm also learning how to communicate more efficiently in a professional environment,β she said. βItβs nice to interact with people already in the industry and they know all about it.β
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