New Google intern is feeling lucky

For many, being offered an internship for one of the world's most viewed websites would only be a dream, but for one UCF student, it's a reality.

Junior event management major Jerry Estrada was recently selected out of 3,000 applicants for a summer internship with Google as part of the Building Opportunities for Leadership and Development Diversity internship program.

After hearing about the internship opportunity through a friend, Estrada decided to apply.

"I wanted to have an amazing summer," Estrada said.

After going through the two-step application process of filling out basic information and then submitting an essay and resume, the rest was history.

Estrada's paid internship will take him to Google's headquarters, located in Mountain View, Calif. The 11-week long internship will provide Estrada with the opportunity to glimpse into a business career at a technology company, attend workshops and skill-building seminars, build relationships and much more. He is expecting to be there June 7 through Aug. 12.

Estrada said while he is ecstatic with the opportunity to intern with Google, he ultimately hopes a job opportunity will present itself, particularly in the area of event planning since he's an event management major and has experience as the student director of Late Knights.

"Jerry is a very hardworking and talented individual," said the adviser for Late Knights, Kelly Sparks. "I know he will make the most out of this opportunity."

Junior marketing major and Google student ambassador Derek Werdenberg said that a lot of Google's success comes from its employees, also known as Googlers, who exemplify what it is to balance work and life.

"There is a reason why their hiring process is so rigorous, specific and thorough; it's because they know what characteristics a Googler should embody," Werdenberg said. "Google looks for individuals that exhibit endless creativity, autonomy, are results-driven and are ‘Googley.' These employees bring a wide range of skills and ideas to the table, which is why Google is so great at being innovative and a leader in its industry."

According to Google's website, the BOLD Diversity internship program is designed to provide exposure to technology for minority students.

"At Google, we don't just accept difference, we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community," the website says.

Estrada, who is the oldest sibling with a younger brother and sister, said his family could not be any more supportive and that the amount of support he's receiving from them, his hometown of Miami and UCF is overwhelming.

"I never expected for all this to happen. This is all a dream and it makes me feel so amazing to see all the support," Estrada said. "I am so blessed to have a great family and an amazing school who believes in me."

Estrada never thought that he would get such an opportunity to work for Google and said he encourages other students at UCF to try things outside of their comfort zone, and believes that anything is possible.

"I am honored to see how the students, faculty and staff have all been congratulating me. I am so blessed to have a great family and an amazing school who believes in me," Estrada said.

"I am so proud to represent UCF at Google this summer."