Guest Post: Reflecting on my Experience at PAYETTE

Alejandro Buenrostro interned at PAYETTE in 2019 as part of the ACE Mentor Program. Here, he shares some of his experiences. 

Now that I am graduating from high school, I have been able to reflect on how lucky I have been. I have been fortunate enough to attend a school that has many affiliates in Boston and offers an internship program. The program affords students the opportunity to intern in the student’s intended profession. During my senior year, I took advantage of this opportunity and joined the ACE Mentor Program which opened the door to Chris Blomquist and PAYETTE.

My experience at PAYETTE would not have been possible without the ACE Mentor Program. I was fortunate to find the ACE Program as I looked for an opportunity to advance in the field of architecture. When I heard a friend speaking highly about the program, I decided to check it out. This quick decision proved to be one of the greatest high school decisions I made and is the opportunity I am most thankful for. As soon as the mentors introduced themselves, I knew I wanted to surround myself with the people involved. Although we are only scratching the surface during the program, I have already learned so much about what it means to work in architecture and engineering; from developing significant communication skills to a diligent work ethic driven by passion.

Participating in ACE proved to be nothing but beneficial. Within the first few weeks, my mentor introduced me to Chris Blomquist, an architect at PAYETTE. It is here, where I began my first internship that solidified my interest in architecture. I had always been intrigued by architecture but entering the firm for the first time was an experience that truly took my breath away. Many of the people at PAYETTE have recounted their experiences of not only their lives in the workplace, but also in college. This has helped me set more short-term goals while still focusing on the long-term goals. I already knew the transition from high school, to college, and to the workplace would be difficult, but now I have a clearer picture of what to expect. The ACE program and my experience at PAYETTE has helped ease my mind because I am now even more certain of what I want to study. I have had many people tell me the field of architecture is very challenging and demanding, but I know from my experiences in high school and this program, that it is a challenge I can tackle with passion.

For the next four years, I plan on studying architecture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. I believe having the opportunity to work in an occupation you are happy to go to every day is one of the greatest privileges one can have, and I plan on working as hard as possible in order to obtain a career in architecture for this reason. I am beyond grateful to have had these opportunities through the ACE Mentor Program, and I am extremely appreciative for being so welcomed at PAYETTE. It has truly been an unforgettable experience that helped me remind myself of what I want to achieve, and how I can achieve it.