“I’m a Structural Engineer, of course I…”
That was the TikTok trend we hopped on during my internship, capturing the personality of engineers in a short video that made people stop scrolling.
“I’m a marketing intern for a Structural Engineer, of course I…”
But what comes after that? Before this summer, I wouldn’t have known what to say.
The summer going into senior year of high school, I was lost. It seemed like everyone knew exactly what interested them and who they were going to become, future doctors, engineers, lawyers, and athletes. And then there was me, I was no athlete, nor was I good at math or science. Public health? Ew, blood. Engineering? My dad does that and he’s a total math nerd. Political science? I didn’t even know who our current local representative was.
I had no idea what I wanted to do but I knew what kept me entertained. Social media. In my free time, I would edit fun YouTube videos, scroll through TikTok and Pinterest, and I would get excited about social media trends. That’s what made me happy. So, as I scrolled through the list of majors, one caught my eye: marketing. It wasn’t as intimidating as the others; it was just up my alley.
Now here I am, working a summer internship at a structural engineering firm. That girl who once said, “ew, engineering” is now sitting in meetings about engineering projects, drafting proposals, and creating social media posts about engineers and what they do. And surprisingly, I love it.
I’ve learned that marketing isn’t just for beauty brands or movies. It’s about storytelling, even when the stories are hidden behind those concrete buildings. This role has taught me that it’s finding creativity in a place most people don’t look at, and adding light to a place that’s dim. So no, KPFF might not be as flashy as Netflix, Coca-Cola, or Apple but it’s what’s behind all that, the spaces where people dream, work, and create the brands we all know. And I’m getting to help tell that story? That’s a pretty cool job I have.
At first, I was intimidated by the world of engineering, as it felt so grey to me. Plans, measurements, calculations, and terminology I have never heard before. But I’ve realized that even in the precise world of engineering, there’s room and a need for creativity. Many Gen Z, including me, have little awareness of this industry, with less than a third even considering a career in engineering. Trust me we’re missing out on seeing how creativity and impact can merge in unexpected places. And I get to help tell this story to inspire others, and to market a company like KPFF, who are dedicated to bridging the gap between visionary design and the reality of building it. This internship has opened my eyes to how marketing can elevate industries people often overlook, and I’m excited to take these lessons into whatever story I help tell next.
And this is what I’d say if I had to finish the TikTok:
“I’m a marketing intern for a Structural engineer, of course I help tell the stories that are hidden behind those concrete walls.”
Julia Orue is our 2025 Structural Engineering Marketing Intern. She is attending Santa Clara University with an estimated graduation date of 2028.
