Florida Tech Panther Scholar-Athlete Spotlight Recognizes Softball Player Miranda Schwartz
By Jerry Durney, Florida Tech // July 4, 2024
Cajuste is majoring in Computer Science
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we feature Miranda Schwartz of Florida Tech softball. This summer, the Lutz, Florida native is gaining meaningful experience at an internship in his desired field. We caught up with Schwartz to learn more about the incredible opportunity.
What company are you interning for this summer? What is your title and role with the company?
This summer, I am interning with RS&H Inc. in Tampa, FL. My title with the organization is Water Resources Intern, and my role is to assist in making drainage development plans, reviewing calculations and storm tabs, and helping the water resources team on projects and any additional projects.
What drew you to this internship? What steps did you have to take to earn your position within the company?
I am still trying to decide what field of civil engineering I want to pursue. I was drawn to this internship because it allows me to explore the water resources side of civil engineering, see how I like it, and see if I would like to continue to pursue it. I found this internship through a connection with the team.
Jolie’s [Miracle] dad knew someone who worked with the company and passed my resume along. From there, I still had to apply for the job on the website, and then I got an interview with the hiring manager via Microsoft Teams. A week later, I received the job offer.
What are some exciting tasks or projects that you have been able to be a part of?
One of the projects I am working on is one of the freeways over in West Palm. I have been able to place a drainage structure and help lay out the entire drainage system for this new proposed freeway.
What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education, and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
I am a civil engineering major at Florida Tech. I came across civil engineering in high school. I got into an engineering academy and participated at first just to receive the cord. However, I found a passion when working on bridge simulators and the structures themselves.
It has not always been something I wanted to pursue, but once I stumbled upon the field, I knew it was what I wanted to major in.
How has being a scholar-athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing in your internship? What skills have you taken from your time as a scholar-athlete that help you in your internship?
Being a scholar-athlete has helped me prepare for my internship because I am working in a team, and being a part of a team as a scholar-athlete directly translates to the workplace.
Communication skills are also one of the most critical parts of my internship, and being a scholar-athlete has helped my communication skills grow both in situations in which I am comfortable and uncomfortable. It helps in comfortable situations like with my teammates and coworkers but also in a little bit more uncomfortable situations like with coaches or, in the workplace, my boss.
What skills have you acquired at your internship that will help you on the track at Florida Tech?
I think one of the biggest things is speaking up and asking questions. In my internship, if I do not continually speak up and ask questions, I will fall behind. I think this will translate and make it easier to communicate with coaches and teammates on and off the field.
Another is embracing uncomfortable situations. This internship was big, new, and intimidating; just embracing the uncomfortable situation has helped me to grow, and I think that can translate into the field as well.
How is your internship preparing you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
It is helping me to get a feel for what I do and do not like in the civil engineering field. I am still early on in my degree, as I am just entering my junior year. I have not decided where my focus is going to be, but this internship is helping me figure it out and determine what I genuinely want to do.
It is also teaching me valuable skills and software that I can use in future jobs after I graduate.
What advice would you give another scholar-athlete/prospective scholar-athlete who is looking to pursue a similar path?
First, I would say try to find internships early and get a feel for what you do and don’t like ahead of time. Second, trust the process; there is a lot of training and a lot of times when it’s going to be tough; just trust the process. Finally, vouch for yourself; you know your time and your worth.
Don’t be stuck being pushed to the side because you’re new and don’t know that much; ask questions, watch others, or see if you can help in any way. It is going to be better for you overall, and show initiative to your coworkers and boss.
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