Meet Alex!Note from the editor: Summer means different things to different people. Some people say summer doesn't actually start until Memorial Day or until schools are out or even until the Fourth of July holiday--but at Intel, we know summer has started when the interns begin to arrive. And oh BOY do they arrive! They come from all over the place, from all different types of backgrounds, for different lengths of time, but one thing is for certain: they're here to work hard, play hard and leave with an unforgettable experience. This summer, we're going to do things a little differently and follow an intern by the name of Alex, an upcoming sophomore at Johns Hopkins University over the course of his internship in the Intel Architecture Group in Oregon. Alex is pursuing a triple major in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics and Statistics and Mathematics. In addition to his academics, he's the President of the Class of '16 at Hopkins and a brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi. In his own words, he'd say that he loves being a part of the technology world, but outside of programming, he enjoys playing music and juggling! Meet Alex as he takes us along on his Intel internship.
“Mommy! Daddy! I want to work behind a desk while my friends are out exploring the world this summer!”
…Said no one ever.
I agree with you. It sounds crazy when it’s phrased that way, and you can imagine why my parents were confused when I brought it up to them, but in reality, my experience this summer is nowhere near that.
I know this might surprise you, but being a programmer has nothing to do with pocket protectors or immensely thick glasses. I know… Shocking. Nor does it mean sitting hunched over a desk slowly developing carpal tunnel as you work your way into your 30’s already bald and still living off of chips (not the kind Intel makes, but the kind you eat) and pop (or soda, if that's what you call it).
For all you know, that binary is actually saying it is me… The world may never know.Being a programmer has everything to do with innovation and freedom. With a laptop in one hand and a charger in the other (one of the world’s only limitations… battery sizes, but don’t worry, engineers are working on it), programmers have been known to change the world. All you need is an idea and a will and the tools are all laid out in front of you.
You didn’t think I meant literally, did you?You never hear of a rising sophomore in college becoming the chief editor of a magazine or the manager of the New York Yankees*. You never hear of a 22 year old artist selling their first work for $10.4 million. But there are movies made and newspapers commandeered to portray the immense success stories and triumphs of young minds who have committed to a dream of a brighter future and an improved world.
I’m 18 years old. I’ve been flown across the country to spend time at Intel innovating and exploring new solutions to previously unseen options. I spend lunch with brilliant minds from around the world and meet with the men and women who devised the pieces of your computer that allow you to access Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Google on a second to second basis.
I get to design the future.
So, back to my original statement. While I could have worked at a summer camp or as a life guard at the local pool, I chose instead to get an apartment on the west coast, go out with friends on weekends and go sky diving after work. I chose to take part in a technology revolution that everyone will benefit from. I chose to be a mind behind a forward moving world.
This isn’t a desk. It’s a doorway and behind it is whatever I decide it will be.
It’s a bit of a squeeze, but if it were the easiest path, it wouldn’t be worth taking.You’ll hear more from me in the near future regarding my personal experiences here and all of the opportunities that I will have the fortune to take hold of!
Your summer intern,
Alex