1. My name is Kathleen Granger, and I am applying for SCAQMD’s 2015 Governing Board Summer
Internship Program. Within the organization, I would like to focus my attention toward the technology
advancement and research projects (or any of the science/mathematics operations that I, as an intern, would
have the opportunity in which to work). Currently, I attend Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana as
a junior in the School of Science and Engineering. I am majoring in Chemical Engineering, as I love the
subject of chemistry, and I want to use the knowledge that I obtain to be able to apply my perspective to
solving large-scale world problems. I am looking to gain experience in the chemical engineering field in the
form of an internship because I want to expand my knowledge-base; I seek to understand howto apply the
learned concepts in my area of study to a career field and real-life situations; and,consequentially,I need to
build a platform on which to stand when I graduate and begin my career search.
With my degree, I want to ultimately specialize in pharmaceuticals and drug research, pollution solutions,
or alternative energy sources,as I know those to be of extreme importance in this fast-paced, evolutionary
world in which we live. I believe helping the world and its people by attacking the problems in these areas
would be a most-satisfying and useful way to spend my life. On the other hand,I have not had the
opportunity to participate in any specific aspect in my area of engineering, only in general senses.With that
being said, I want to find where I would best fit-in and where I would most enjoy turning my mastery of
skills into the application of them--plainly, which part of chemical engineering I like best and in which I am
most useful. I welcome the opportunity to obtain an internship position in any area of chemical engineering
to further my pursuit of acquired skills, practical understanding,and exposure. I hope to discover an area in
which I will excel, and there is only one way to find out: by testing out as many aspects as I can.
Growing up in Southern California, I was exposed to air quality issues.Driving home from school in the
afternoon, my mood was often influenced by the surrounding scenery as I drove down the hill in Rolling
Hills Estates, overlooking the valley and downtown Los Angeles.On a sunny,clear day--usually only after
a rainstorm, the basin was clear, and I could see the glistening city below as the setting sun reflected an
auburn glow off of the skyscrapers.My body would buzz with an electric tingle at the beauty of it all, and I
would instantaneously be happy with appreciation of the wondrous and magical world in which I had the
privilege of living. The view could brighten up even the worst of my days,both literally and figuratively
speaking. In comparison, on other days,when the valley was filled with an eerie, green-grey tint from
pollution, a feeling of disappointment would seep through my pores at how destructive and careless
humans could be to this beautiful planet. I pondered ways in which I could reverse such a sad,pitiful
occurrence, and I hoped that one day, I could work towards restoring the earth to both its natural and
enhanced beauty.
During the first week of one of this semester’s classes,Chemical Reaction Engineering, we were shown the
broad scope of potential directions that would become available to us. To instill this awareness, we studied
some of the most significant problems in today’s world, using examples from all over the country and both
ends of the spectrum. One such “occurrence that [we] modeled with reaction engineering [was] the
accumulation and depletion of air pollutants or smog in urban areas such as Los Angeles…[where] its
fundamental understanding plays an important role in policy making and legislation standards ofgaseous
emissions throughout the United States. Specifically, the air pollutant carbon monoxide [was] explored and
modeled in the Los Angeles basin,” (http://www.umich.edu/~elements/web_mod/la_basin/index.htm). This
demonstration sparked a deeper excitement within me, and my curiosity on the matter continues to grow.
As my passion for air pollution issues extends well beyond my hometown, and as schooling continues to
add to my skillset, (which can then be applied to work on providing the best and most efficient means of
energy and transportation),it only makes sense that I would be interested in interning at AQMD—
especially since AQMD “believes that all who live or work in this area have a right to breathe clean
air…[and] is committed to undertaking all necessary steps to protect public health from air pollution, with
sensitivity to the impacts of its actions on the community and businesses…through a comprehensive
program of planning, regulation, compliance assistance,enforcement, monitoring, technology
advancement, and public education,” (http://www.aqmd.gov/aqmd/index.html). The opportunity of
working at the AQMD and learning more about air quality issues and how to work towards a better, cleaner
South Bay would serve to enhance my educationalexperience.
Thank you for yourtime and consideration.
![My name is Kathleen Granger, and I am applying for SCAQMD’s 2015 Governing Board Summer
Internship Program. Within the organization, I would like to focus my attention toward the technology
advancement and research projects (or any of the science/mathematics operations that I, as an intern, would
have the opportunity in which to work). Currently, I attend Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana as
a junior in the School of Science and Engineering. I am majoring in Chemical Engineering, as I love the
subject of chemistry, and I want to use the knowledge that I obtain to be able to apply my perspective to
solving large-scale world problems. I am looking to gain experience in the chemical engineering field in the
form of an internship because I want to expand my knowledge-base; I seek to understand howto apply the
learned concepts in my area of study to a career field and real-life situations; and,consequentially,I need to
build a platform on which to stand when I graduate and begin my career search.
With my degree, I want to ultimately specialize in pharmaceuticals and drug research, pollution solutions,
or alternative energy sources,as I know those to be of extreme importance in this fast-paced, evolutionary
world in which we live. I believe helping the world and its people by attacking the problems in these areas
would be a most-satisfying and useful way to spend my life. On the other hand,I have not had the
opportunity to participate in any specific aspect in my area of engineering, only in general senses.With that
being said, I want to find where I would best fit-in and where I would most enjoy turning my mastery of
skills into the application of them--plainly, which part of chemical engineering I like best and in which I am
most useful. I welcome the opportunity to obtain an internship position in any area of chemical engineering
to further my pursuit of acquired skills, practical understanding,and exposure. I hope to discover an area in
which I will excel, and there is only one way to find out: by testing out as many aspects as I can.
Growing up in Southern California, I was exposed to air quality issues.Driving home from school in the
afternoon, my mood was often influenced by the surrounding scenery as I drove down the hill in Rolling
Hills Estates, overlooking the valley and downtown Los Angeles.On a sunny,clear day--usually only after
a rainstorm, the basin was clear, and I could see the glistening city below as the setting sun reflected an
auburn glow off of the skyscrapers.My body would buzz with an electric tingle at the beauty of it all, and I
would instantaneously be happy with appreciation of the wondrous and magical world in which I had the
privilege of living. The view could brighten up even the worst of my days,both literally and figuratively
speaking. In comparison, on other days,when the valley was filled with an eerie, green-grey tint from
pollution, a feeling of disappointment would seep through my pores at how destructive and careless
humans could be to this beautiful planet. I pondered ways in which I could reverse such a sad,pitiful
occurrence, and I hoped that one day, I could work towards restoring the earth to both its natural and
enhanced beauty.
During the first week of one of this semester’s classes,Chemical Reaction Engineering, we were shown the
broad scope of potential directions that would become available to us. To instill this awareness, we studied
some of the most significant problems in today’s world, using examples from all over the country and both
ends of the spectrum. One such “occurrence that [we] modeled with reaction engineering [was] the
accumulation and depletion of air pollutants or smog in urban areas such as Los Angeles…[where] its
fundamental understanding plays an important role in policy making and legislation standards ofgaseous
emissions throughout the United States. Specifically, the air pollutant carbon monoxide [was] explored and
modeled in the Los Angeles basin,” (http://www.umich.edu/~elements/web_mod/la_basin/index.htm). This
demonstration sparked a deeper excitement within me, and my curiosity on the matter continues to grow.
As my passion for air pollution issues extends well beyond my hometown, and as schooling continues to
add to my skillset, (which can then be applied to work on providing the best and most efficient means of
energy and transportation),it only makes sense that I would be interested in interning at AQMD—
especially since AQMD “believes that all who live or work in this area have a right to breathe clean
air…[and] is committed to undertaking all necessary steps to protect public health from air pollution, with
sensitivity to the impacts of its actions on the community and businesses…through a comprehensive
program of planning, regulation, compliance assistance,enforcement, monitoring, technology
advancement, and public education,” (http://www.aqmd.gov/aqmd/index.html). The opportunity of
working at the AQMD and learning more about air quality issues and how to work towards a better, cleaner
South Bay would serve to enhance my educationalexperience.
Thank you for yourtime and consideration.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/c708ddec-df05-43de-ba4c-caaee3c1672c-151007071344-lva1-app6892/85/aqmd-cover-letter-1-320.jpg)
