My trip began with a flight from Houston to El Paso. Picking up the rental car came with a small hiccup — the first vehicle they gave me wasn’t properly equipped — but everything worked out in the end. I drove away in a great-looking white Jeep, which would become my companion for the journey ahead.

Before leaving El Paso, I stopped for lunch at El Taquito. The food was inexpensive, authentically Mexican, and absolutely delicious — a perfect first meal for the trip. From there, I drove through the desert toward Alamogordo. It was an interesting place, although I didn’t explore much that afternoon. After checking into my hotel, I took a nap before heading to White Sands National Park.

I arrived at White Sands at around 6:15 p.m. The landscape was extraordinary: endless white dunes rising from a vast, flat expanse, with mountains forming a dramatic backdrop in the distance. The dunes shifted between brilliant sunlight and deep shade, changing their appearance as the evening progressed.

At first, I felt slightly uneasy. Signs throughout the park warned visitors about the possibility of getting lost among the dunes. I made sure I had water and everything else I might need, although I was disappointed not to have a compass after reading that cell-phone reception could be unreliable. Fortunately, everything worked out perfectly.

I began with a short stroll and then rested for a while in the shade. Later, I continued across the dunes until I found a good place to watch the sunset. It was incredible. I recorded a five-minute video as the sun disappeared — something I may eventually turn into a small creative project and share on a website.

I stayed after sunset, continuing to walk and take photographs as the fading light revealed entirely different colors across the sand. Watching the dunes transform from bright white to softer evening shades was one of the most memorable parts of the experience.

Eventually, I drove back to my hotel in Alamogordo and went to bed early, ready to wake up and continue the journey the following morning.

You can continue reading about my journey here.

My first paid job was a a co-op program at Eaton Corporation in Toledo, OH, during my junior year of my Chemical Engineering degree at Northwestern.

Why CO-OP?

Entonces… A Co-Op program is a great way to gain experience. But, why gain experience? Well, because it will get you a better paid job when you graduate.

Employers value proactive recent graduates, but their experience is even more valuable, beacuse work experience means that a candidate has much less likelihood to require “handholding” on his/her first job.

How CO-OP?

My advise to all undergraduates is to enroll on the Co-Op program at their universities, no matter what. Typically people get scared because these programs are about one year long, so you do several semesters working instead of studying. However, there is a trick…you can drop out of a Co-Op program anytime, and it’s ok.

The good thing about enrolling in a program like this is that it will help you get work experience easier and more quickly.

Alternative: Internships

Internships are your alternative to a Co-Op program, but those are a little harder to get, given that more people apply to them and the commitment to recruit at your school is less strong.

But, if this is your only option, go for it! And, “How do I land an internship?” will be your first question.

Three tips here:

1. Start by ensuring you believe in yourself. Write down “I deserve an internship as much as any other [insert your peer group name here]”
2. Prepare your resume
3. Read the book “The Two Hour Job Search” and apply the techniques there

The key message is: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND MOVE NOW.

I hope this was helpful. Please post any questions on the comments and I would love to help. Also, please share this post with any engineering students you know, y más si son latinos.

Hasta pronto!

It’s that moment, a split second. A split second in which you feel all inspired, in awe about the world, with a feeling of peace and expansion, with all eagerness and power to do, celebrate, be greateful, and give. It’s when you feel the value of life.

What is that moment? Has everybody felt it?

Why did it stop coming back?

Is it about faith? Is it about safety?

Please, show up once more.

There is one thing no one can take from you, though, and that is your freedom to decide what to fill your mind with.

This might make no sense to you today. Trust me, it will tomorrow.

Stay there, and remember that there is nothing that can take away that power from you. So fill up your mind with the things that make you feel better.

God bless you.

On resilience was originally published in P.S. I Love You on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.