Q&A with CAPS Student Intern Victor Medina
Victor Medina, CAPS Student Intern from 2021-2023
Victor Medina used to think environmental problems would eventually sort themselves out. That has changed since he joined the CAPS program, which he said helped him realize the urgency in addressing climate change — so much so that he’s now planning for a career in green energy himself.
Victor is a recent graduate of Harmony Magnet Academy’s Academy of Engineering, situated within the Porterville Unified School District, and an alumnus of CAPS student internship program. Victor is a freshman at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is pursuing a major in nuclear engineering. With plans to advance the future of renewable energy, Victor shares how his commitment to climate action was nurtured through his participation in the CAPS internship.
In this student profile, Victor shares his motivation for joining the CAPS program, his transformative experiences during the internship, and the profound impact it has had on his career path.
Victor (far right) stands with fellow student interns after presenting to the Porterville Unified School District School Board.
Why did you decide to get involved in CAPS?
I was one of four students my teacher recommended for the program when I was a sophomore. At the time, I was hearing more about the green economy and the growing concern about pollution. As the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders called attention to our impact on the environment, I thought it would be interesting to join.
Can you describe the types of projects you initially started working on?
For the first semester, the internship was mostly virtual and involved a lot of data analysis to identify energy consumption trends at the district’s school buildings. We also worked a lot on tracking costs and budgets to make sure our energy conservation strategies wouldn’t cost the district more in the long run. For example, I remember working to see how replacing lights would affect the school district’s budget.
As we transitioned back to in-person, we began working on more team outreach projects. When I started, I had to regularly check natural gas meters to ensure they were working and monitor the schools’ usage. We would also audit schools' HVAC, lighting, and natural gas systems to see where their infrastructure stood to improve.
How has participating in the CAPS internship impacted your understanding of green careers and their significance in addressing climate change?
I used to think that pollution and environmental problems would sort themselves out over time. Since joining CAPS, I’ve learned that green careers are critical to addressing climate change. It was important for me to realize how involved we all need to be in making our future more sustainable.
Before the internship, I was set on becoming an aerospace engineer and working on rocket design. However, the internship led me to understand the urgency of green careers. I decided to go into the energy industry and major in nuclear engineering because of its potential to provide clean and sustainable power.
Victor (front right) sits with his cohort of student interns during a summer training session. Summer 2022.
Can you share a specific project or experience from your internship that made a tangible difference in promoting sustainability or climate action?
Two projects stand out as examples of things that I believe made a tangible difference. One was our energy conservation project (ECo), which combined energy audits and outreach.
The first part involved conducting energy audits across various schools. We tracked the energy consumption of each school and then divided that metric by the square footage to calculate something called the Energy Use Index (EUI). This index allowed us to compare energy usage among different school buildings throughout the district and state. It provided valuable insights into which schools needed more attention in terms of energy efficiency.
The second part of the ECo project was outreach, which gave us a more in-depth perspective of each school's needs. Doing outreach involved visiting schools to present our findings to staff and teachers. Our presentations showcased the impact that they can have on energy conservation in their own schools by doing things such as turning off lights, computers, and heating and air conditioning systems when classrooms and school buildings are empty.
Through our outreach, we were able to facilitate competitions between schools so they could compete to use less energy. The incentive of a prize, such as $5,000 or a water refill station in one instance, made the competition even more engaging. As schools became more competitive, students began participating in taking ownership of their district's energy usage and it was amazing to see the numbers go down.
During the internship, what new skills did you acquire that you believe will be valuable in pursuing a career related to environmental conservation or sustainability?
During my internship, there were three very important skills that I believe will be valuable for my major in nuclear engineering and in my career path in the future.
The foremost skill is problem-solving. Often, I was tasked with analyzing raw data and identifying the important numbers, which involved a great level of organization that could serve as a model for others to do the same. This skill is invaluable in the field of environmental conservation, where complex issues and data analysis are common.
Excel proficiency was another valuable skill that I developed during my internship. I learned when and how to use specific Excel functions. This skill will be particularly relevant in data management and labs where data-driven decision-making is essential.
The third skill that is going to be important is developing strong public speaking and communication skills. Nuclear energy can have a bad reputation and it’s hard to convince people of its value because of the misconceptions and concerns. Being able to articulate the potential contributions of nuclear engineering to sustainable energy will be crucial. Moreover, effective communication will be a key part of working with a lab team.
Student interns make plans to assess the district’s school bus fleet. Summer 2022.
And can you talk a bit about what you're deciding to do now that you're going into college and what your plans are in terms of how you will use your education in the future?
I’m planning to major in nuclear engineering. This decision was largely influenced by my experiences during my internship, because I noticed that everything revolved around energy. It's in high demand, expensive to produce, and takes a huge toll on our environment.
Energy’s impact on the future of sustainability pushed me to pursue a career in advancing renewable energy through nuclear fusion. While many people are familiar with fission, where atoms are split, fusion is the opposite process, where atoms are combined. It's still in the research and development phase, but its potential benefits are significant. If successful, fusion could be up to four times more powerful than fission reactions and nearly four million times more powerful than coal or oil — with zero CO2 emissions. Additionally, it's considered safer than traditional fission reactors.
I understand that fusion faces its share of challenges, but it's precisely these challenges that excite me.
What challenges did you encounter during the internship, and how did you overcome them? How have these challenges influenced your perspective on pursuing a green career in the future?
The most prominent challenge was finding balance between school and the internship. At the time, I was juggling four AP classes, serving in a cabinet position for three different clubs, and trying to participate in a sport. It was a lot to handle, but the internship worked perfectly for my schedule and I made sure to communicate my situation if I needed more time on a deadline.
Another challenge was communicating the importance of the green industry to people. I realized that not everyone understands the urgency of sustainability and green energy. As crucial as it is to address climate change, it made me realize that we need more people to advocate for cleaner air, less pollution, and responsible resource management. Convincing others of the significance of this field and the positive impact it can have on our future is critical.
How have your own feelings about climate change evolved through the internship?
Before the internship, I knew that climate change was an issue that needed attention, but I had the impression that we had more time to address the problem, primarily because it seemed like technology and industries were not pursuing solutions.
However, during the internship, I began to realize the urgency of the situation. Learning about the depletion of oil and natural gas supplies by around 2090, which are vital resources for the world, was a wake-up call. Our dependency on fossil fuels is a problem that needs to be resolved right now.
As a young person, I’ve also observed a generational divide in attitudes towards climate change. In my rural California community, which consists mainly of older individuals, there was a significant lack of awareness about climate change. Many folks either didn't view it as a problem, didn't consider it important, or were entirely unaware of its existence. They might notice environmental issues like dirty streets and polluted air but weren't concerned. In contrast, I found that younger people tend to be more aware of and concerned about climate change and motivated to take action to mitigate it.