Intern Spotlight: Joseph Pelczar

This is the second in a series of five individual profiles of our summer 2015 student interns. This summer, Learning Life’s social enterprise partner, Signia Surfaces, has five interns who are working on marketing, sales and educational content.  To learn more about interning with Learning Life or Signia Surfaces, contact us at email@learninglife.info.    

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Lake Ridge in northern Virginia. During my adolescence my parents moved to Fairfax, where I am still currently living.

What is your current occupation?

I am an undergraduate student at George Mason University in Virginia, near Washington D.C.  I study information systems and operations management.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy spending quality time with friends, hiking many of Virginia’s Trails, and playing my guitars (I have two acoustic and two electric guitars). I have a passion for food and enjoy cooking and learning how to eat healthier.  Throughout the summer, I enjoy going to the gym, running, and playing rugby.

What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?

I regularly visit different regions of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, which have always been a favorite scenic location of mine. The views are spectacular during the fall when the leaves turn different colors.

Is there a particular life experience you have had that has shaped you as a person?  If so, what was it, and how has it shaped who you are?

Going on mission trips in college to help others in various states, to learn about their cultures and how to interact with people from various backgrounds has been very influential in my life.  I have been fortunate to have gone to New York and Tennessee.  These trips have helped me to better appreciate my peers and mentors, develop a stronger knowledge of myself, and adapt to different locations.

Why did you choose to intern with Signia Surfaces?

I am excited to intern with Signia Surfaces because I believe it will provide me with valuable, real world experiences learned from working in a social enterprise, and I was very impressed with its unique brand of advertising clients and connecting metro D.C. locals with their community.

What are your career plans?

I intend to pursue a career as a business analyst or management consultant in the D.C. metro area.  My long-term goals are still very open, and I intend to keep all my options open as I approach graduation.  As long as I am near friends and am happy at my job, I will be content.