Sunday, June 2, 2024
By:
Hello everyone!
I am Mujtaba, APS’ new Innovation intern for the summer of 2024. I’m only a week in but I’ve already experienced so many amazing things here. Between the beautiful culture and architecture in DC combined with the amazing work we’re doing here at APS, I know that this summer is going to be filled with special memories that will last a lifetime!
This has been my first experience living away from home so I had no idea what to expect. That being said, my first week could not have gone better! There are already so many great things I’ve experienced, but by far meeting all of the fellow interns has got to be my highlight.This community that SPS has created with the interns is unlike anything I’ve seen from other companies and is something I truly appreciate.Our first week together was filled with so many different fun activities and the occasional fire alarm at 3:00 am which I’m sure nobody will forget.
Our first official day, was fun and eventful. We all took metro together and showed up excited and ready to start! The SPS team was extremely welcoming and during our orientationand had us do a few ice breaking activites to get the summer started. We also had our professional headshots taken, which I was in dire need of. We enjoyed a nice lunch together and did a bit more of the orientation before officially ending our first workday. Later that evening a bunch of us went to the national mall where we walked around and the participated in a few extremely competitive games of spikeball ( no one has yet to beat Jaden and Johnny).
The rest of the week was spent getting accustomed to the new job and living environment. Working at the ACP-DC office has been very nice, it is a beautfiul building in a great location and has amenities like a fitness center and bike storage. Working at the office with my fellow interns makes me feel like part of a team, and adds an "in-person" feel to my remote work style. Now that I've talked so much about my experiences in my first week, I'd like to discuss my actual work.
I am working with APS this summer on multiple projects such as the Innovation Fund and the Simons Grant, both of which support research for professors at different universities by providing funding for various projects. Working with my mentor, Tremaine, has been a great experience, and from what I’ve heard, my fellow interns have had similar experiences in their respective departments. She doesn’t make the job harder than it needs to be and made it clear to me from the beginning that I can come to her for help with anything and that I should never hesitate to ask questions. I also love the emphasis APS makes on having a work/life balance. It has allowed me to work a full time job and still be able to enjoy DC’s culture and nightlife. I can even travel while working, another big perk of having a remote first work environment.
I feel very lucky to be apart of the SPS intern program and I'm sure that the work and experiences I have here will be unforgettable. Stay tuned for week 2!!
Mujtaba Khalid