Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1464867
42 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2022 it showed me the true value of hard work. By having the ability to solve problems, I accom- plished many of my given projects with ease. 3. How to write technical documents Electrical engineers at Valpo University are expected to take a technical writing course. is course helps students become more aware of writing technical documents and emails. During my internship, I was tasked with revis- ing an electrical connector publication. I had to put the document in language that our deal- ers would understand. My technical writ- ing course helped me with this task as we had prepared several papers addressing a range of audience members. is was to prepare us to write in terms of individuals who may not be familiar with engineering jargon. Where's the Disconnect? In my first team meeting, I learned more about real world application in electronics than I learned during my three years at college. Most of the projects were unlike anything I saw at school, and within three months I felt like I had learned a whole new language. at was when I realized most of the topics I learned in my classes were too broad and theoretical to apply to my specific job role. It was discour- aging to discover that I could not apply much of what I learned in school to my internship. Although this was the case, it's also important to understand that the electronics industry is so diverse. Most colleges encourage engineers to graduate within four years, which is a tight timeline to educate students on every aspect of every industry. How Can Schools Bridge the Disconnect? Schools can encourage students to engage in professional organizations such as IEEE, the IPC Student Chapters, and SMTA. By engag- ing in these organizations, students can learn more about careers within the electronics industry and the processes they work with in their future careers. ey also gain hands-on between the tasks I had at work and the educa- tion I received. What Did School Bring to the Table? Here are three main ideas I gained from my education that helped me with my internship: 1. How to communicate effectively It is vital that students become involved in campus activities beyond the classroom before entering the workforce. Leadership and volun- teer experience are not the only things employ- ers search for, but they give students the ability to work effectively with others. I was involved in several activities on campus before I started my internship. ese activities helped me grow into a stronger leader and taught me how to communicate effectively with others. Because I had worked to enhance these skills, it was eas- ier for me to build a stronger relationship with my mentor and manager during my internship. ese stronger relationships allowed me the chance to conduct several informational inter- views with employees throughout the company. While there, I was able to learn about the differ- ent careers in Caterpillar and build my network. 2. How to think roughout engineering school, we are required to take several difficult courses within the STEM field. ese courses encouraged me to find the most efficient way to solve problems. At times I hated this and would spend count- less hours pulling my hair out, but I believe It is vital that students become involved in campus activities beyond the classroom before entering the workforce.