Matthew Guerin interned with Delta Land Services and contributed to environmental monitoring and reporting in the Gulf Coast area.
How did you get your internship and what is the focus of the experience?
I got my internship with Delta Land Services through my network. The company is a leading environmental restoration, mitigation, and carbon sequestration company serving private and public entities along the Gulf Coast. This internship aligns with my interest in this field and gave me insight on how agriculture business works. I went through an interview process over the phone and discussed what I hope to gain out of this internship, days I need off, and how long I plan to work for.
Throughout my internship with Delta, I spent most of my time going out in the field. While out in the field we would monitor the mitigation banks by counting tree stems on plots all around the acres. We would also go along streams and riverbanks to record the success of the planted herbaceous plants. When I was in the office, I would read up on previous projects and help write reports on the projects we were working on.
By far the best thing that happened for me on this internship was that I was lucky enough to have a mentor that was very easy to talk to. This made it very easy to connect with him and he taught me plenty of things outside of the job as well. Not too many people are fortunate enough to have someone to work with every day that they truly enjoy the company of. Because of this experience, I am already strongly considering working for them again next summer and maybe even permanently.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship?
Be open minded to other internship possibilities. Trying to find an internship that has everything on your checklist is not the ideal way to go about it. They all offer something new for you to learn in the most unexpected ways. Also know that whatever internship you choose, you are going to leave that job with more skills than you had on your first day at the job.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
The work that I experienced this summer at Delta has influenced me to strongly consider returning for a second internship next summer and also accepting a full-time permanent position with them after graduation. If not this job, then maybe something similar to it to where I can work outside and not be stuck behind a desk with a monitor to look at all day every day.