BHCC’s Learn and Earn program places students in Greater Boston’s top corporations, small businesses, non-profits, and civic organizations for a hands-on learning experience. It introduces the possibility of new careers and new lives. Launched in 2012, the program has since expanded to serve over 100 students yearly, supported by over 35 partners.

Name: Kidus Mengesha

Organization: Fleet Robotics

Responsibilities: As a Robotics Technician Intern, I support engineers with various automation and robotics projects. I typically handle tasks such as assembling and testing components, troubleshooting systems, solving problems, and assisting the team with ongoing work. When I complete my assignments early, I often help other engineers with their projects, which has greatly enhanced my understanding of the work we do.

Biggest Lesson: The most important lesson I’ve learned is discovering the type of work I truly enjoy. I previously studied computer science and earned an associate degree in that field, but I realized it wasn’t a good fit for me right at the end. This experience confirmed that electrical engineering is the right path for me because it’s hands-on, challenging, and constantly evolving.

Best Moment: My top moment so far has been seeing one of my projects come together successfully.

Watching something I actually contributed to work and knowing my effort made a difference is very fulfilling. I’ve also realized how much I’ve grown over the past two months here, especially in my technical skills and attention to detail.