Student Spotlight: Philip Prabhakar
| Author: | Chloee Robison |
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Philip is a senior in IE from Avon, Indiana, just five minutes west of Indianapolis. He has a minor in Management and is pursuing certificates in Applications in Data Science and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Philip is a familiar face around IE– he’s an IE 200 mentor, FYE teaching assistant, a grader for IE courses, and heavily involved in IISE!
Philip came to Purdue with a passion for engineering and a love of sneakers, and he hopes to put his interests to good use by one day working for Nike. In his free time, along with collecting sneakers, he enjoys thrifting vintage clothing and staying active around campus.
At the start of his freshman year, Philip didn’t yet know which engineering major he would choose. He attended Transition to Major (T2M) sessions– seminars designed to introduce FYE students to potential majors– where he learned about industrial engineering. “IE just felt like the right fit,” he says, “It was exactly what I wanted to do.”
Philip expanded his undergraduate experience by completing two summer internships, both with Procter & Gamble. The first was in Cincinnati working for the Quality Assurance Department, and the second in Shippensburg, PA working in Supply Network Operations.
During his time at Purdue, Philip has gotten a sense of some of the notable IE undergraduate ‘traditions.’ His most memorable experience in IE, he says, was during the final week of the IE 332: Computing in IE course. Students who have taken the class no doubt remember the crowds of students that gather in the libraries, hoping to finish building their websites and turn their final project in on time during this intense week. The sense of camaraderie during this week is unparalleled, and Philip says the memory is cemented in his mind forever.
His love for Purdue traditions doesn’t stop there. Philip is an avid sports fan, and this year he has a boarding pass, is part of Ross-Ade Brigade, and is a member of Purdue Paint Crew.
As amazing as his time has been at Purdue, Philip says there are a few things he wishes he had done differently freshman year. “I struggled because I tried to do everything by myself freshman year. Getting a study group established can let you learn things from your friends that you wouldn’t have gotten on your own. It allows for you to collaborate and do better overall as a student.” Along with that, “I would tell myself to get involved sooner! I waited until the latter half of my sophomore year to really get involved, and I wish I had built those connections a little bit earlier. It just makes being on campus a lot more fun and easier as a student.”
Now, looking forward to graduation, Philip is embracing uncertainty. He is exploring his options, knowing good things will come. “Uncertainty allows you to grow and get out of your comfort zone,” he says. With that mindset, whatever Philip decides to do after graduating, we are sure it will lead him down a great career path!