Rishi Basdeo

Rishi Basdeo, a BHC mechanical engineering and biomedical science scholar, discusses his internship experience and shares lessons he has learned at UCF and work. From the importance of networking to the necessity of effective communication, he has got them all covered!

Rishi Basdeo believes it is “extremely important” to establish and maintain your network during your academic career and beyond. To build a strong and vast network, he says, you must “be willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone and connect with those you would not have otherwise.” And he even says an often overlooked component when networking is your professors. Many professors have industry contacts and industry-specific knowledge in pointing you in the right direction for internship opportunities. Professors often, also, have research opportunities that can help students build experience, which employers look for on applicants’ resumes.

At Limbitless Solutions, an internship Rishi participates in, he learns the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. He recalls working on projects with people from different educational backgrounds, highlighting the challenging nature of effective multidisciplinary interactions but also praising the rewarding experience he has had. For example, he constantly needs to simplify technical concepts and theories from his specialty to his peers who lack the necessary jargon and critical expertise. In doing so, Rishi gains a deeper understanding of the project while learning how to present specific ideas to the general audience succinctly without compromising the content.

There is no better time to start seeking opportunities than the present if you haven’t already started. Rishi believes you should begin researching opportunities to expand your horizon once you start college. These opportunities, he adds, don’t have to be internships or research! It could be as simple as participating in Registered Student Organizations (RSO’s), pursuing passion projects, or developing new skills. However, Rishi also warns that you may not secure an Internship from your first application. But that shouldn’t stop you from trying, researching, and continuously learning new skills.