Emily Irigoyen

What has your experience been like working with Lockheed Martin through the CWEP program?

Since I began working as a CWEP in December of last year, I was able to complete a few months of in-person training and onboarding before all students were instructed to work remotely. Through this position, I have noticed significant improvement in my time management and technical skills. CWEPs are required to work a minimum of 12 hours per week, and must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, so this experience has helped me to prioritize tasks and stay on top of my assignments. I have also really enjoyed working with my teammates, both full-time employees and other CWEPs, and feeling comfortable to ask questions to gain as much out of this experience as possible. I have been able to make valuable connections and am so grateful to be a part of a program created specifically for UCF students.

What leadership positions, research experiences, internship experiences, study abroad experiences have you had so far while at UCF? What did you learn from them - how do you think they helped you get where you are today?

I have been incredibly fortunate to study abroad twice during my first two years of college, and one of those programs was with the Burnett Honors College. I was able to conduct an undergraduate research project with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures about Ernest Hemingway and how his time in Cuba impacted his writing, and the BHC study abroad program allowed me to engage in an international service-learning project [in Mexico]. Both experiences were incredibly impactful to me as a student interested in international affairs. I also serve as a student ambassador for the College of Business and am eager to become more involved and serve our school through this position.

What is your long-term goal/future plans? How is the BHC helping you to achieve these goals? 

I hope to work within a global management consulting firm, where I can contribute my skills to ensure that a company is running as efficiently and effectively as possible. I also aspire to attend graduate school for an MBA in international business, ideally somewhere in Europe. I believe that education is something that you can never truly finish, so I hope that my job will challenge me and allow for me to be exposed to new perspectives and different work environments. The Burnett Honors College has helped me not only prepare for graduate school and my future professional career, but it has also provided me with an invaluable network and support system. I have had many mentors and advocates within the BHC that continuously encourage me to strive towards my goals.

If all things go right, 10 years from now I will most likely be…

…happy with wherever I am at in life.

What advice do you have for other students who may want to follow a similar path?

Since I am only halfway done with my undergraduate career, my advice to any other students would be to take full advantage of your time as a college student and all the opportunities available at UCF. Four years is a lot of time to learn, make mistakes, and grow as a person. There are so many resources for students [at the] BHC, as well as many social events that are great opportunities to make friends. Surrounding yourself with people who encourage, support, and push you to succeed is important.

What is the best vacation you’ve ever had?

Last summer, I traveled to Maine with my friend Rachael who I met through living in the Honors LLC at Tower III. We camped on Mount Desert Island and hiked several trails throughout Acadia National Park. We also saw Stephen King’s house in Bangor, Maine, and got to try Tim Hortons coffee while we were there as well!