College Graduation Reflections: Friendships, Internships, and Many Open Doors
by Making Waves Education Foundation
Voices of Making Waves: Meet Estefan Cervantes
As Estefan Cervantes (he/him) put on his cap and gown this past spring to celebrate the culmination of his college journey at Northeastern University, he reflected the experiences that shaped him into the person he is.
A first-generation college graduate, Estefan was initially torn between his passions for mathematics, science, and music. His path as a mechanical engineering major became clear after taking some general engineering classes.
During his time at Northeastern, Estefan developed his skills in engineering. He built a drone, a date slicer, and a climate-controlled box. He also completed three internships as a part of Northeastern’s co-op program: at Bosch, Sonos, and Amazon Robotics.
Graduating from college without any student loans and embarking on the next chapter of his life, Estefan is filled with gratitude for the support from his family, friends, and Making Waves – and is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. Get to know Estefan in the below Q&A!
What inspired you to pursue your degree, and how do you feel now that graduation is here?
When I was first looking into colleges, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. On one hand I enjoyed doing math and science and on the other hand, I wanted to learn more about music.
After multiple conversations with different teachers and counselors, I ultimately decided that I should give engineering a try since it’s easier to switch out than to switch into it. I took a general engineering class where we used SolidWorks, a computer aided design software, and I immediately loved it.
This led me to pick mechanical engineering as my major and I have learned so much since. Now that I’m graduating it’s nice to look back and see how things fell into place to make sense in the end.
Reflecting on your college journey, what have been some of the most memorable experiences for you?
Some of the most memorable experiences were going out with friends and having a good time in the Northeast. My friends and I would go on yearly trips to New Hampshire in the fall and enjoy the foliage.
Were there any challenges you faced during college and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I faced was adjusting to the rigor of life as a college student. I had to keep myself in check and make sure I was completing my own tasks without someone being behind me telling me what to do. I began using Google Calendar to set important dates such as deadlines, events, midterms, etc., and connected it to my phone. I’d get reminders on my phone of upcoming dates which was nice. In recent years, I’ve been making a list of things I want to complete each week and check them off as I complete them. This lets me look back and feel like I’ve been productive with my week.
What during your college journey surprised you the most?
It surprised me how fast it went by. Most people only go to college for four years, but I’ve been here for five years due to the co-op program at Northeastern. I can’t imagine graduating in four years. It seems too soon to be thrust into life after college.
What are your proudest accomplishments or achievements during your college years?
My proudest achievements are the many projects I had the joy of working on. As a mechanical engineering student, our projects tend to be very tangible.
I built a drone my second year, which was during COVID, so I had a lot of time to work on it. Last year, I built a date slicer for a company named Hot Date Kitchen. This year, I’m working on a climate-controlled box as my capstone.
I get great satisfaction from seeing something be brought from my mind into the physical world.
Can you talk about extracurriculars or internships that have been impactful for you?
Northeastern has the co-op program in their curriculum which asks us to complete a full-time six month internship with the option of completing up to three internships.
My first co-op was at Bosch Thermotechnology, where I learned both practical and technical skills such as time management and system testing.
My second co-op was at Sonos, where I learned how data is managed in a company.
My third and final co-op was at Amazon Robotics. Here I was treated like a regular engineer, which forced me to learn a lot of technical and practical skills.
These internship experiences have helped me know what it is to actually work as an engineer and granted me the opportunity to make connections at these large companies.
What advice would you give to your younger self or to incoming college students?
I would say to not be afraid to talk to people, in class and at clubs.
At times it can be overwhelming and stressful to try and talk to people which causes us to overthink, but people are so nice. I like to think they also feel the same way I am, so I don’t see why I should be scared to talk to them, especially if I’m struggling in class. I’ve made many friends from just complaining about homework or a test.
This also applies to asking questions in class and at office hours. You are literally paying them to help you, so it makes sense that you want to understand what you’re being taught.
Who has had a significant influence on you during your time in college?
My friends had a significant influence during my time in college. I felt like I could take a break from school and just relax and laugh with them. When we made plans it made me feel like I had something to look forward to throughout the week.
Now that you have graduated, what are you most looking forward to in the next chapter of your life?
I’m looking forward to being financially stable and having the ability to explore the world.
I think that my degree has opened many doors and I’m excited to see which ones I decide to open next.
As a part of the Making Waves program, what impacted you the most?
Having a coach from Making Waves impacted me the most. It felt like a break from all the chaos each semester brings and offers a chance to reflect on my life outside of classes. These reflections with my coach helped me look at the bigger picture when things were getting stressful. It also served as a way for me to think about what I want to accomplish each semester.
This Voices of Making Waves storytelling series spotlights the voices and journeys of the students and alumni in our Making Waves Education Foundation and Making Waves Academy communities.
ABOUT MAKING WAVES Education FOUNDATION
At Making Waves, we are committed to educational equity. Making Waves Education Foundation is a Bay Area nonprofit that supports Making Waves Academy – a public charter school with more than 1,100 5th through 12th grade students – and leads college and career programming with more than 430 college students.
Knowing the opportunities that come with a college degree, we partner with historically underrepresented and underserved students to help make college affordable and graduation attainable. Centering the journeys of our students, our personalized approach includes college and career coaching, scholarships, and financial planning.
Our alumni network includes more than 730 college graduates, who earn their degrees and land jobs at more than twice the rate of their first-generation, low-income peers, with 85% graduating debt-free.
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