When Isaac Melville '24 interviewed for his internship with New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation, the first thing the interviewer noted was how professional Isaac's resume looked compared to the other candidates. It was meaningful remark considering what the resume looked like just a few months before – when it was a blank piece of paper.
Last fall, Isaac explained to Len Culter, Ph.D., professor of political science, his dream of combining a political science education with his passion for the outdoors. Dr. Cutler has connections at the DEC and if they took him on, the experience would qualify as a for-credit internship. Great, except...
"I didn't have a resume. So, I went to the MacDonnell Career and Internship Center and they got me started. I wrote a draft and uploaded it to Handshake and within 20 minutes sometimes I got a response with feedback. We went through about seven drafts until it was finished."
The finished resume clinched Isaac's position as a hazardous waste compliance intern. Any company that produces hazardous material must transport and dispose of the waste according to federal guidelines, and they're also required to meticulously record their compliance in a manifest. Isaac reviews the manifests, and if he detects a red flag, he alerts his supervisor.
Often times, he's doing that work at a desk (above). But not all the time.
"I got to go with a team to Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna and observe the drilling process. It was great seeing our work implemented in the real world. It feels like you're really making a difference."
Isaac knows he wants to work outside and use his education to affect positive change on the environment. He may get that chance with the DEC. Though he's working in the hazardous waste office, he's been encouraged to explore other divisions and departments. He's already been approached about a summer opportunity, and perhaps a full-time position is on the horizon? Either way, he's making the most of the internship, and he remembered to thank the people who helped make it happen.
"I emailed Alicia Pepe and Kristy Luhr in the internship office and told them that I will always value what they did to further my career. I give so much credit to them and their entire team. If I hadn't gone there for help and assistance, I never would have gotten this far."
