We’re often told to “find your passion.” Easier said than done for most people (at least that’s what I think). As a computer science student in a seemingly oversaturated job market, I wrapped up my junior year thinking the key was to find a niche to focus on. While I had spent many years working towards a career in software engineering, I have begun to realize that it might not be my dream job, and that I might enjoy data management or machine learning if they serve a greater purpose. 

What I discovered instead was that the path to career clarity often lies in figuring out what you don’t like. My back-to-back internships in 2025 – one in a French research lab, the next at a Boston biotech giant – taught me that eliminating mismatches is just as critical as chasing a dream job. Here’s what I learned about work environments, remote work, and myself throughout the seasons of 2025.

1. Isolated Innovation in France

My summer internship in France was an opportunity I never saw coming. When the application email went around, France was the last place I ever pictured myself. I almost didn’t apply, considering the preference was being given to Master’s students. Lesson one: apply anyway. You truly never know what the result could be.

I ended up in Saint-Quentin, near Versailles, to do research in computational chemistry – using machine learning to parse molecular structures for drug discovery. My chemistry knowledge stopped at high-school-level balancing equations, but I’d taken a Machine Learning class in my junior year, and I had just finished a robotics research project, and I thought, “My computational skills can bridge that gap. And well, at least I’ll be in France!”

Reality hit pretty quickly. I felt intensely lonely and homesick, despite being in a place many dream of. There was a heavy language barrier, even within the lab. But the biggest surprise was the work style: incredibly flexible and laid-back. My professor was taking weekly trips to conferences; there was no pressure to be in the lab daily. While this freedom sounded ideal, I realized I felt untethered. I missed the energy of a shared workspace and the spontaneous conversations with colleagues (who understood me). 

The research itself was a lesson in independent problem-solving – you’re given a direction and must forge the path through papers and experiments yourself. I realized that I prefer collaboration, especially when venturing into an unfamiliar field. I needed colleagues to brainstorm with who had knowledge where I lacked.

Now, contrary to what my imposter syndrome thought possible, my summer research provided the framework necessary for my frequently traveling french professor to expand this work. This experience made me realize we have the tendency to work too much and always hop onto the next thing without taking a moment to breathe and look back at our achievements. 

Looking back, I was often too wrapped up in anxiety about the project and my worth to fully embrace the opportunity. I should have sought out free French classes or local student events. The experience was incredible, but it highlighted a crucial need that will be a recurring theme in this post: I thrive on daily human connection and a stable, collaborative environment to do my best work, otherwise I tend to fall into isolation, not innovation. 

2. Into the Corporate World in the Fall

As I said, we hardly give ourselves the time to pause and reflect before jumping onto the next ship – which is what I did when, only days after returning to the U.S. from France, I began my co-op at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge. Talk about whiplash – but in the best way. I’d gotten this opportunity through a connection made at a Co-op connection fair the prior year. Lesson two: network consistently, even when there’s no immediate opening. People remember.

The shift was stark: from a quiet, fourth-floor lab to a multi-building headquarters with over 3,000 employees. It’s always exciting to be in Boston! Yet, despite the buzz, my own team in Learning & Development was almost entirely remote, spread across different states and countries. While I loved my supportive all-women team on Zoom, and the office perks were amazing, I started to feel oddly anonymous in the vast, bustling space. I started staying at home more often, which only deepened the disconnect.

Then, half my team got laid off–a drastic lesson in corporate restructuring. It made me ponder the trade-offs of working for a large company. One colleague, who had been there for seven years straight out of college, was now job-hunting in a completely new market. It sparked the question: did I want the scales and resources of a giant biotech, or the intimacy and stability of a smaller company? 

Getting half of your team laid off means, inevitably, gaining new responsibilities. It was really a hands-on opportunity, and my new boss simply said, “Go for it!” Suddenly, I was managing more data, building visualizations, and deriving insights and statistics for the team. It felt thrilling to be given so much responsibility, but also scary in that I might not be able to deliver. On thing I did learn is that I enjoyed the freedom that came with it.

When I left, I was sad to go but grateful for the connections. I discovered a real affinity for data storytelling, and I learned that even in a large company, my team’s culture (supportive, female-led) is a huge priority for me. I realized I loved the mission-driven energy and the responsibility I’d been given. But I also knew, unequivocally, that I never want a job where I’m permanently behind a screen, never seeing my teammates face-to-face. 

3. Winter Reflections

In true me-fashion, the day after I finished my internship, I hopped on a long-overdue flight to Brazil to see my family for the first time in three years. Last time I visited was the summer before my freshman year, when I was in a totally different spot mentally. 

Work takes up too much of our lives to feel disconnected. I now know that I need a role that balances independent focus with consistent, collaborative, and supportive energy. I want to know my colleagues as people. 

I feel lucky for all the opportunities that I have experienced thus far, and I often feel like an imposter. But if you’re anything like me, remember this: the people advocating for you believe in your ability. If you keep finding yourself in new opportunities, it is because you deserve to be there. 

With all of that being said, here are my takeaways from 2025 about what I want and don’t want for future jobs: 

What I know I don’t want:

• Purely remote jobs – I need to see people face-to-face
• Environments with little daily collaboration or connection with coworkers
• Roles without clear goals or a lack of structure in the work. 

What I’ll prioritize in my next role:

• Hybrid models of work – the best of both worlds.
• A team-oriented culture where I can collaborate with colleagues.
• Opportunities to solve problems with data, analysis, and visualization.
• An environment where I can advocate for myself and my ideas.

Your internships truly are more than just lines on your resume. Moreover, no opportunity is a waste of time. They’re your personal research lab, designing a career that not only fits your skills, but also your life. Pay attention to what drains you and what energizes you. That data’s your most valuable guide.