Interns at FPA: Liam Maher
In recognition of National Intern Day, we’re highlighting some of the students currently in the Internship Program at French & Parrello Associates (FPA). National Intern Day, held on July 25th this year, is used as an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the future leaders of our world. Through this spotlight series, we mean to highlight our appreciation for the Interns at FPA and all the hard work they do.
The following is a Q&A with Liam Maher, a returning Intern in the Telecommunications Department at FPA. Liam currently attends Villanova University as a Civil and Environmental Engineering student. He will be entering his senior year this Fall.
What has been your greatest takeaway during your internship at FPA, so far?
My greatest takeaway from working at FPA so far, is bridging the gap between learning in school and solving real-world problems. With each new project proposing a new, unknown problem, I find myself learning new things every time I worked on a different project. Understanding when, where, and how to use certain problem-solving skills is important for me as I transition in my professional field.
What would you say is the best thing about interning at FPA?
The best thing about interning at FPA is getting to work with many different people. As learning is probably the most important thing during the internship, everyone is willing to answer questions, and I have learned many different things from coworkers indirectly or directly working on a problem together.
What career path do you hope to take after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to start my professional career. I am interested in a variety of different fields after graduation but have yet to decide which one I want to pursue. I have gained interests in land development, site design, geotechnical work, construction, and structural design. I will continue to explore these interests during my internship and during the school year.
What motivated you to return to FPA as an intern in 2024?
My motivation in returning to FPA for my second year was to gain more experience in engineering as well as learn programs and work on projects that I did not work on in my first year. Working in a familiar environment allowed me to have the confidence to explore new areas and opportunities within telecommunications. I also wanted to learn programs such as Civil 3D to make myself more rounded as an engineer.
