Student Name: Mohamed Adula
Year: Junior
Major: Cybersecurity
Career aspirations: Working for a public service company in NYC in digital forensics
Internship Company & Location (city/state): MTA / Manhattan
Internship Department: IT Strategy & Architecture
Internship Title: Technology & Engineering Fellow
Internship Semester: Spring 2026
Why did you decide to do an internship?
I didn’t want to graduate and realize this internship wasn’t for me – I wanted to really see if IT / Tech and working at the MTA is what I wanted to do. Also, getting real-world experience – when you’re in a corporate job, you understand the work better than when you’re in class.
How did you find this internship?
I went on the MTA’s website and I applied. I also connected with an MTA rep at the Mercy Career Fair.
What are your main responsibilities or activities at your internship?
I’m there to help operations run smoother for people who work at the MTA. I spend time understanding how processes work and potential solutions the company is working on, such as enabling Wi-Fi on metro north trains. I review projects’ budget data and update summary documents for department leaders to review. I make sure to track what I’m learning in a journal so I have information to update my resume and share in interviews.
What has been your favorite part of your internship?
I’ve done a lot of networking within the IT department and other groups, making connections with at least one person on every team. I’ve been able to better understand what they do, get tours of their offices, and even receive advice on other certifications and overall career advice.
What was the most important thing you learned at this internship?
You can’t be afraid to ask questions! At the same time, learn to balance asking with not being overly reliant. Better to ask questions to get closer to the answer, rather than for the answer.
Did this internship have any effect on your career choices or major?
It’s opened my eyes to additional certifications, specific resources (study guides, events), and other roles, like in security and IT strategy.
What advice do you have for students about internships? (Maybe about: why or when to do one, how to find one, how to be successful as an intern, how to make the most of the experience, or anything else on your mind!)
Think of companies that you want to work at. Rather than apply to as many places as possible, I applied to companies that I could see myself working at. Ideally, you want to be somewhere that you actually enjoy.
What’s next for you, career-wise?
Figuring out what I want to do in technology, now that I’ve started to gain experience. At some companies, there could be five or six different departments for cybersecurity. So deciding where I want to use my skills to gain the most fulfillment and be of help.
