They mastered new software tools. They shadowed mentors and documented site visits. They defended big ideas in spirited debates and explored different careers. These are just a few of the experience's students tackled at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) this summer as part of the Project Pull internship program. By seeing firsthand the agency’s design, construction, and maintenance work, these 55 high school and college interns discovered how their education translates beyond campus – and caught a powerful glimpse into their own futures.
Zoya Saranga, for example, just graduated from the Urban School and will be attending American University. As part of her internship with Wastewater’s Collection Systems Division, she tagged along with wastewater control inspector Leilani Elaydo on visits to restaurants and facilities such as the Cal Academy of Sciences and Recology to ensure their compliance with wastewater regulations. Her notes and photos not only informed the final inspection reports, but they also helped her decide on a course of study.
“Project Pull was really amazing, and I learned a lot about how our City works. I went into this program not really knowing what to expect,” said Zoya. “This experience, along with a class I took in high school, helped me decide that I want to minor in public health.”
For Amin Ezzat, an incoming freshman at San Francisco State University, his Project Pull internship affirmed his interest in engineering. He learned Excel from scratch and researched steel pipe requirements to build a new calculator for Infrastructure’s Engineering Management Bureau to use in planning and designing new systems. “Developing it involved understanding the design specifications and then translating those into formulas. I was given rough ideas to shape the spreadsheet, however most of it was research through the manual handbook and online,” said Amin.
In addition to diving deep into engineering, he gained soft skills needed in every professional setting. "The SFPUC was my first true office environment where there are always moving parts and pieces. I learned that ensuring clear and honest communication allows for the most growth and ensures a thriving work community," explained Amin.
Career Pathway Model
For the students who are still researching their career options, Project Pull has a separate initiative called the Career Pathway Model. A virtual mentorship platform first launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, this included Zoom sessions three days a week that focused on career exploration and professional skill-building. Lisa Miles-Wilkerson, Program Director for Project Pull, organized virtual panels to connect students with industry experts, including a pilot, a Disney World project manager, and a San Francisco Superior Court judge. Many of the panelists were Project Pull alums who spoke about their introduction to public service.
Said Liam Guiland, a junior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory: “I have gained more clarity in my possible career. The networking that was offered through the CPM pathway was immense and allowed me to get insight into the everyday lives of engineers, lawyers, and doctors.”
Lisa said providing interns with opportunities to learn is essential to developing the future workforce. “We have two goals at Project Pull: to expose diverse and talented students to different careers and to provide them with meaningful experiences that will serve them in the classroom and in the workforce,” she said. “With this team, I saw their intelligence and leadership emerge during the summer, and I’m so proud of them for rising to the challenge. Thank you to all the mentors who guided our interns to a successful summer!”
Thank you to our Project Pull interns for everything you brought to the SFPUC this summer!