Located on the southeastern coast of Jamaica, you will find the capital city of Kingston. Surrounded by the Blue Mountains, Red Hills, and a major seaport, the city bustles with industries like tourism, apparel manufacturing, and shipping. It鈥檚 also the hometown of 榴莲视频app色版 Summer 2022 engineering intern鈥撯�搉ow part-time team member鈥撯�揚ascal Lindsay.
Pascal left Jamaica in 2019 for the University of South Florida. Now a senior, Pascal recently reflected on what it was like forgoing the comfort of close connections at home to study engineering in the US. 鈥淜ingston has the highest population density in Jamaica, yet it鈥檚 very small,鈥� he shared. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a link-based community: a network of interconnected people who can help you get things done.鈥� Pascal knew leaving Kingston would be hard, yet this young man embraced the challenge. 鈥淐oming to Tampa, Florida, I did the opposite of someone who has a big world and lots of connections would do: I left. I鈥檝e spent years immersing myself and creating my life here. Now, I consider Tampa to be my second hometown.鈥�
Pascal鈥檚 circle has expanded further, thanks to his time in Frederick, Maryland, and the pathways to unlimited possibility forged by the INROADS internship program. INROADS is a leader in programs focused on advancing diverse youths into the world of Corporate America. Its mission is to help talented and underrepresented high school and college students find ways into the business world. The organization is proud to be a disrupter that breaks glass ceilings and closes opportunity and wealth gaps. 榴莲视频app色版 is honored to partner with the non-profit as a hub for INROADS internships.听
The way it came together for Pascal was serendipitous. 鈥淚 was looking for spring internships, and one of my friends sent me contacts and listings in the INROADS internship community and I noticed 榴莲视频app色版 on the list. They needed an industrial engineer and I wanted to find out more. My friend said, 鈥楥all this one guy. He can help you.鈥� Just a few days later, I interviewed with Rebekah Collogan. I had no idea that 鈥榯his one guy鈥� was a part of INROADS. The more I learned about the organization, I began to realize just how lucky I was.鈥�
As a mentor, Rebekah provided Pascal with guidance and allowed him to roll up his sleeves and get to work. He was encouraged to spend time on the production floor and observe, ask questions, and then encouraged to find solutions. Then came the freedom to make it happen. 鈥淩ebekah was the perfect mix of hands-off to let me explore and the guiding force I needed to be successful,鈥� he reflected.听
Pascal was born with a love for science, technology, engineering, and math. A logical thinker, he defined himself as 鈥渙bsessed鈥� with how processes work. 鈥淔rom statistics to integrated science classes, there was never a time I didn鈥檛 want to solve problems and I loved every minute of figuring out how I could make things work better.鈥� Pascal thought this natural love of sciences and math meant a future as a mechanical engineer. While we were talking, he shared an example about knowing when it was time to switch engineering fields. 鈥淚 never wanted to design the fastest car in the world like my mechanical engineering colleagues. I wanted to solve issues to make the car function better. Going faster doesn鈥檛 solve any problems. What does solve problems, is designing protocols so other team members can make that happen instead.鈥澨�
榴莲视频app色版 proudly provides hands-on opportunities to explore the manufacturing industry and Industrial Engineering. Pascal summed up what that meant to him in one word: empowering. 鈥淚 felt needed. That encouraged me to do more, like look for more projects that I had zero time to take on,鈥� he laughed. When asked about those extra tasks he couldn鈥檛 help but jump into, a time when he tweaked a system for internal orders. 鈥淚 noticed someone compiling internal orders and asked if could figure out a way to make the process a little smoother. Then, I got busy getting it done.鈥�
Pascal’s positive experience during his internship makes it difficult for any other company to measure up. Pascal works remotely for 榴莲视频app色版 as he wraps up his undergraduate degree. 鈥淭his was one of the most enjoyable work experiences I have ever had. I had a voice to say what I think, and it gave me a solid base to understand how engineers work to tackle issues in the real world.鈥� Pascal saw firsthand the collaboration component that team members appreciate. 鈥淚 saw engineers on their feet problem solving more than they sat at their desk. That鈥檚 based on company culture, and that鈥檚 important to me.鈥�
If you鈥檙e concerned that Pascal is all work and no play, you can relax a little. The creative side of him balances out his day job. From hosting campus-wide events to spending time in the recording studio cutting tracks, he has the perfect insight balancing work and fun. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been a creative, which can sound ridiculous to some because of my logical side. I love singing. I taught myself to play the guitar when I was ten. I produce music. I had always heard that once you were a 鈥済rownup,鈥� you had to give up fun for work. I was always skeptical about that, and I鈥檓 trying to prove that if you love what you do, you鈥檙e not giving up anything.鈥�
As president of the Caribbean Club at his university, Pascal takes great pride in providing a place where everyone can feel welcome and have a fantastic experience. Part of that comes from his supportive parents, natural drive, and experiences like his time at 榴莲视频app色版. 鈥淭here are other things I cannot wait to do in this world. Steady, continued success is what keeps me reaching to do more.鈥�
Reaching to do more is a theme he wants to pass along to other potential interns considering 榴莲视频app色版. 鈥淭he environment at 榴莲视频app色版 is conducive to growth. You will be valued. There is a heap of opportunity for you to do great things here and well into your future.鈥�
