two interns posing for a picture at a table

Meet Our Drexel University Interns: Zihao and Nick

February 17, 2014

 

Here at Rigid Lifelines, we enjoy the opportunity to shape the minds that are the future of engineering. Nick Damraksa and Zihao Li (Zi) both major in Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University. Zi is currently in his junior year as part of the 4 year, 1 Co-Op program. Nick is in his sophomore year, as part of the 5 year, 3 Co-Op program. Although the requirements for the two programs are slightly different, the structure is essentially the same. Each time a student participates in a co-op (or internship) program, they need to attend that program for a duration of 6 months. They do not need to attend any classes during the time of the co-op because their program becomes their full-time responsibility. 

Drexel Students must find a co-op/internship with a company that is related to their field.  
All of the Drexel co-op programs provide a list of different companies that participate in hosting internships.  Then, students who need an internship can read through the descriptions of each company and find a group that interests them. Once students submit their resumes, those companies can decide which students they would like to interview.

As interns at Rigid Lifelines, Nick and Zi perform a variety of different tasks within the engineering department. Both of them have done edits on system assembly drawings and proposal drawings. They have also performed maintenance tasks with our order and process management software to assist the quoting and inventory process. In the course of doing those changes, both Zi and Nick have been able to hone some of the most crucial tasks that are associated with mechanical engineering.

During their time here, both Zi and Nick have had an opportunity to polish their skills and techniques in working with AUTO-CAD and Excel software. Their internship with Rigid Lifelines has allowed them to gain more hands-on experience with these programs. Those programs are popular here at Rigid Lifelines (along with many other engineering firms).  Since our interns have gained more familiarity with these programs, they will be even more prepared to build and design new products for almost any type of engineering company.

When they aren’t designing and building mechanical systems, Nick and Zi enjoy a variety of different activities. Nick enjoys playing video games, cooking, watching movies, and exploring the city of Philadelphia when he has the time. And Zi also enjoys watching movies and cooking, but he especially enjoys hanging out with his girlfriend.

For other future interns, Zi and Nick offered several pieces of advice. Zi said, “Don’t live too far away from where you need to work. Commuting can be really tiring. And it’s better to keep your phone off during the day, just to avoid distraction when you really need to focus.”  Nick agreed with Zi and then added, “Eating a good breakfast is important too, you’d be surprised how hungry you can get. And you’ll save more money if you pack a lunch instead of buying it all the time. Eating out can add up quickly.” Because of their commute from Philadelphia to Morgantown every day, both interns agreed that it is crucial to have a vehicle that is reliable and works correctly. But, they also noted the importance of getting a lot of sleep. Unlike the bleary-eyed, late nights of other college students, both Nick and Zi are vigilant about getting a good night’s rest and they say that it makes their day much easier and more productive than if they have not slept well or long enough. 

We hope that this blog has provided a cohesive look at the life of the interns here at Rigid Lifelines. If you have questions about what it’s like to be an intern here at Rigid Lifelines, feel free to leave your questions in the comments section below.

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