Do It Scared: The Internship Lesson Every Student Needs, conversation with Jia Lin, a Furman University Student

Do it scared: Finding direction through internships, AI, and tech

Chris Whitaker speaks with Jia Lin, a rising senior at Furman University studying computer science and Chinese studies, about how an internship opened her eyes to solution engineering, collaboration, and the human side of technology. They also dig into AI, ethical use, and why taking risks early can help shape a career path.In this episode, Chris and Jia Lin explore how classroom learning compares to real-world tech work, why networking is really about genuine connection, and how language and cultural skills can expand career options. Jia Lin also shares a practical mindset for students and early-career professionals: do it scared.

Key topics

• Chris introduces Jia Lin as a computer science and Chinese studies student at Furman University, and explains why her early-career perspective made her a standout guest.
• Jia Lin shares that she is a first-generation student from a Chinese immigrant family and is exploring cybersecurity, cloud, and full stack development as possible paths.
• She explains how she found the internship through Furman’s career and internship fair and why the solution engineering role appealed to her as a bridge between technical work and people-facing communication.
• Jia Lin says one of her biggest surprises was how diverse the engineering team was, with people coming from engineering, cybersecurity, and communication backgrounds.
• She also found solution engineering much more social than expected, with a strong emphasis on understanding pain points, collaborating, and communicating with different departments.
• The internship helped her see where college learning aligned with real work, especially around AI ethics, but also showed her how much professional communication and collaboration are learned on the job.
• Jia Lin says networking mattered most when it became genuine relationship-building, especially through “walk-a-mile” meetings with people across departments like marketing, sales, and supplier services.
• She explains how Chinese studies and computer science connect more than she first expected, especially in roles that require cross-cultural communication and awareness of global technology ecosystems.
• The conversation turns to AI, where Jia Lin shares how she uses it for practical support in daily life, including meal planning as a type 2 diabetic, while still challenging outputs and fact-checking them.
• Chris and Jia Lin discuss how colleges are responding to AI with new policies, and how students are navigating what counts as acceptable use in class.
• Jia Lin closes with advice for students and young professionals: do it scared, because trying new things, even nervously, can lead to growth, friendships, and unexpected opportunities.

Timestamps

00:00 - Chris introduces Jia Lin and her interdisciplinary background 

03:25 - Chinese studies, tech interests, and life outside class 

05:38 - How she found the internship at the career fair 

08:06 - Why the engineering team felt more diverse than expected 

09:17 - Classroom learning vs real-world professional skills 

11:44 - Why genuine networking became the most valuable skill 

13:39 - How Chinese studies and computer science fit together 

15:33 - Exploring cybersecurity, cloud, and full stack as career paths 

18:08 - AI in daily life and why Jia Lin is optimistic about it 

21:35 - Why AI outputs should be challenged and fact-checked 

23:49 - How Furman and other colleges are handling AI in education 

28:33 - Why solution engineering blends tech, business, and people skills 

31:51 - Do it scared: Jia Lin’s main advice for students 

37:42 - Why internships and life advice matter for college students 

38:41 - Chris closes with the value of sharing the episode with students and families

Notable quotes

“Do it scared.”

“I would say take AI with a grain of salt.”

“You will never know where people or connections will take you.”

Connect with Jia