Mayhem in New York

Hello, dear blog reader! My name is Noè.

Six years after starting my studies at ETH, I am now almost finished. I had to take some exams again, I think the professors liked me so much they decided to keep me around for another year. Before officially diving into adulthood and hopefully a career in cybersecurity, I decided to squeeze in an internship. However, just as I was about to start, an intriguing job post caught my eye on LinkedIn: “Supervise Swiss ICT Talents in New York City.” A month in NYC? Supporting a group of ambitious 18-year-old apprentices? Count me in!

To get the job, I had to convince the organizing team at TIE-International. Luckily, I was already in Zug teaching a programming course and met the organizer there for a quick chat. That chaotic week included a paper deadline (later rejected, but we’ll revise and try again), the job-interview, the class, and a nasty stomach bug. Somehow, I survived it all and got the job.

The most challenging part came before even arriving in NYC: finding projects for the apprentices. My initial contacts fell through — either people had left their companies or the projects had moved elsewhere. I turned to friends in NYC, but most worked in large corporations where onboarding alone could take a month. In the end, the apprentices landed at lean startups with manageable side projects. My girlfriend came to the rescue, connecting me with someone who posted in a Slack group for B2C startups in NYC. Within days, I went from scrambling for projects to turning offers away due to my limited capacity.

Once in New York, the city’s scale was overwhelming. Anything that was at least a bit famous—whether entering the city, visiting Katz’s Delicatessen for its famous pastrami sandwich, or grabbing a slice of pizza at some of the more famous spots—required waiting in line for hours. Despite this, the energy of the city was undeniable. Every day, I met someone with a startup idea or an ambitious project. The air is ripe with opportunities, ready to be caught by those willing to make a leap of faith and grab them. However, it was clear that it isn’t that easy: I was surprised to find many CS graduates working as baristas or receptionists in coworking spaces, struggling to find jobs in their field.

What I truly enjoyed was working with the apprentices, and all of the people that made this event possible. They were ambitious, curious, and full of ideas. Some knew exactly where they wanted to go, while others were still figuring it out—both paths are perfectly fine. What surprised me most was how much they seemed to appreciate my support. They often asked me to join their activities or sought my help, making me feel valued in ways I didn’t expect.

Despite the challenges, this experience reinforced my love for tackling new opportunities and mentoring others. NYC reminded me to be brave, ask for what I want, support those around me and try to be there for them, the rest will follow.

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