Co-op/Intern Spotlight: Merafelina Chotoo

Merafelina Chotoo graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach campus in May 2021 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. She now works for Collins Aerospace.

Discuss your previous internship experience at Delta Air Lines. 

I obtained my co-op with Delta in my Sophomore year in the Component Engineering department. At Delta, I provided shop support for the Hydraulics, Pneumatics, and Oil Maintenance shops. My responsibilities included creating cost savings, drafting repairs, and designing alternate parts. Due to my role in the co-op, I was able to get numerous  hands-on experiences which included exposure to plasma spraying, electroplating, and welding. Apart from my work, I was also the Community Outreach Chairperson in charge of managing community service events for co-ops and full-time employees. This allowed me to build relationships with technicians, engineers, and co-ops in a relaxed environment. Additionally, my position provide me with the ability to explore countries such as Spain, South Korea, Peru, and Brazil, countries I thought I would never get the opportunity to visit.  

How has your education, on-campus involvement and experience helped you be successful in obtaining your new role at Collins Aerospace? 

As an international student, I struggled to find my place in ERAU. Joining CSA (Caribbean Students’ Association) allowed me to have a safe space where I could learn about different cultures, and myself. The relationships I built at CSA flourished and later  assisted me in the path to Collins.

There is always a huge emphasis on joining professional and technical organizations (rightly so). It was only when I joined Project Haiti, a humanitarian organization, I was able to combine my passion for community outreach and engineering. This club allowed me to find my place in the engineering world. My experience through this project was a key point of interest to employers and definitely helped when applying for the co-op position at Delta. 

Through my on-campus job at International Programs, I was able to give back to the community in a different way. Assisting international students persuaded me to become a part of the International Student Programming Council (ISPC) and help found the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society. These opportunities taught me valuable skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, management, and problem solving which were discussed in my interviews. 

Having a good relationship with my professors went a long way as well. I was able to do research for the Ford Motor company in my senior year through my professor. It presented a more hands-on experience and allowed me to branch out into different aspects of engineering besides theory. 

What is the most beneficial part of participating in an internship?

Besides giving me a competitive edge, having a co-op also allowed me to gain practical, measurable experience from an internationally recognized company. As this was my first experience in a professional environment I made a lot of mistakes. Being part of this co-op allowed room for mistakes and growth dealing with the transition from an academic setting. Also, through this co-op, I learnt the types of teaching and mentorship I respond better to which carried though to my academics. Having such a huge learning curve in a forgiving environment went a long way in helping with the onboarding process at Collins.  I also struggled with imposter syndrome. Having that experience at Delta instilled confidence in myself and I was able to overcome my insecurities. 

What advice do you have for other international students to be successful in an internship or job search?

You’re not alone in the job hunt. Embry-Riddle provides a plethora of resources to assist you (alumni, Career Services, professors, student organizations, etc). I was able to secure my job through a combination of all four. Find companies that hire international students and focus your energy there. Whether we like it or not, as international students, we must go the extra mile in every way to compete with our counterparts. Use these years to joins clubs that focus on leisure, professionalism, and building a skill. I struggled with the pressure of joining technical clubs for the sake of being more competitive. Confidence in my ability grew only when I stepped away and found my niche of community service through engineering with Project Haiti. When I found what I enjoyed, excelling became easy. NETWORK. As an international student it is difficult to find common talking points with recruiters. As an introvert, it was even more difficult to persuade someone to give me a job. Set yourself up for success and get accustomed to failure. There is going to be a lot of rejections, but use this as practice for improving your pitch. Ultimately, be kind, courteous and open to new experiences. You never know when an opportunity is going to come around, so you need to ensure you’re ready to take it.  *