From AI to Real World Experience: RGS Interns on the RGS Associates Internship Program

When Mariem Hanna and Esther Landis joined RGS Associates as summer interns, they didn’t expect to gain such valuable real-world experience. Both junior-level students – Mariem, who is studying civil engineering at Penn State, and Esther, who is pursuing landscape architecture at Temple University – found their time at RGS to be fun and enlightening.

“I learned more at RGS than I have in school, which says a lot,” Mariem said. “Even as I’m taking civil engineering classes right now, I’ve learned way more from an actual company experience than in a classroom.”

Esther echoed this sentiment, comparing her RGS internship to a previous one where she mainly worked on tedious tasks by herself. She said she appreciated “having a hand in projects” at RGS and was grateful for team members who took the time to explain the processes and reasoning behind decisions.

“It was very rewarding,” Mariem said of her experience. “We, the interns, were literally talking with each other about this in our last week.”

Hands-On Learning and Real Project Experience

Esther and Mariem each emphasized how RGS provided opportunities to work on actual projects rather than just theoretical exercises. This practical experience helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

“In school, especially in my studio classes for landscape architecture, I understand it’s hard to teach the actual job, like all of the tedious parts of it,” Esther said. “But it’s also frustrating because I don’t want to do fun things in school all the time. I want to learn the job and learn the skills I need.”

At RGS, interns can see and participate in the day-to-day realities of their chosen professions. Mariem and Esther said this exposure confirmed their career paths and increased their enthusiasm for the field.

“It definitely showed me that I’m doing the right thing,” Mariem said. “I was worried I’d start it and I’d be like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to do that.’ But I really loved everything that I did at RGS, so it kind of confirmed that I want to keep going.”

AI Project Provides Unique Learning Opportunity

During their internship, Mariem and Esther, along with fellow intern Katlyn Rivera, were tasked with researching and presenting artificial intelligence in landscape architecture and civil engineering. This project not only allowed them to dive deep into a cutting-edge topic but also gave them valuable presentation experience.

The interns were given broad latitude to explore the subject, focusing on how AI could potentially be used at RGS. They divided the work, with each taking on different sections of the presentation. Their research involved hands-on experimentation with AI tools like ChatGPT and various image generators.

“We had fun with that,” Mariem said, referring to their exploration of AI image generation.

The project culminated in a presentation to the entire company, including top management. While initially nervous, the interns found the experience extremely rewarding.

“I really enjoyed it because I knew that no one was going to tell me I did anything wrong,” Esther said with a laugh. “We knew that we knew more than everyone else about this subject. This is a topic that everyone here wants to know about or doesn’t know much about, so it was great to share this new information with them.”

This experience not only deepened their understanding of AI’s potential impact on their fields but also prepared them for future professional presentations. As Esther said, it was valuable practice for “presenting to people who were above me to kind of start getting more comfortable with presenting in a more intimidating situation.”

A Supportive and Welcoming Company Culture

Both Mariem and Esther spoke highly of RGS Associates’ company culture, describing it as professional yet welcoming and supportive.

“It’s very professional,” Esther said. “It’s a very productive environment, but at the same time, it’s still very welcoming, and they really want to teach you. Every time you ask a question, people are there, ready to answer and willing to take the time to explain things to you.”

“They were very nice and very friendly, and they were open to questions, which was really helpful,” Mariem said. “And I ask a lot of questions! But questions are part of learning, so I was happy they were so receptive.”

This supportive environment allowed the interns to fully engage with their work and maximize their learning opportunities. Unlike stereotypical intern experiences, Mariem and Esther said they felt they were given meaningful work and treated as valuable team members.

“When you think of an intern, you think of somebody who gets coffee and runs errands,” Mariem said. “We did do some of the printing and delivery. But a large chunk of it was actually digging deep into the projects and doing some of the work ourselves.”

Preparing for Future Careers

The internship at RGS Associates provided Mariem and Esther with more than just technical skills. It gave them confidence in their chosen fields and prepared them for future professional interactions.

Presenting their AI research to company leadership, for example, helped them practice communicating complex ideas to senior professionals—a skill that will be invaluable in their future careers.

“Usually, I’m just presenting to my professors and my classmates, which is hard because you’re getting critiqued,” Esther said. “Everyone just tells me everything I did wrong, which is fine. That’s why I’m there. But I honestly really enjoyed presenting this [AI research] because I knew we knew more about this topic than anyone else there, and they all wanted to know more about it. It was a great experience.”

Would They Recommend RGS?

When asked if they would recommend RGS Associates to other students seeking internships, both Mariem and Esther responded enthusiastically.

“100%,” Mariem said. “I would recommend RGS because I actually did get great experience, and I actually did learn something. If somebody is willing to learn and be taught, it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Esther agreed. 

“I definitely would recommend RGS for people looking for internships or even people looking for a job,” she said. “It’s a very professional environment, but it’s not intimidating. It’s not like this corporate feeling where no one likes each other or can’t have fun.”

For students seeking a meaningful internship experience that provides real-world learning, professional growth, and a supportive environment, RGS Associates offers a compelling opportunity. As Mariem and Esther attest, interns at RGS are valued team members who contribute to actual projects while developing skills that will serve them well in their future careers.

If you are interested in interning for RGS Associates, send us an email with your resume attached to careers@rgsassociates.com!