What my internship is teaching me about real life, AI, and an industry I never expected to love.
As a rising junior at Lebanon Valley College, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend this summer as an Alpha Omega intern and gain meaningful, hands-on experience. My government contracting internship has introduced me to a completely different industry while giving me the opportunity to make a real contribution.
I am working on Continuum Insights, an internal tool that uses AI-driven analysis to help Alpha Omega better understand its data and manage costs. Along the way, I am learning how to work with Claude and use AI more effectively and efficiently.
I am currently double majoring in Actuarial Science and Data Science, so most of my coursework focuses on using data to understand risk, trends, and decision-making in the insurance industry. My time at Alpha Omega gives me the chance to explore government contracting and the data behind it. I am proud to support the business by helping modernize an aspect of its internal operations, an experience that has given me a firsthand look at Alpha Omega’s broader commitment to automation at mission speed.
Learning a New Language
Coming from the classroom, I didn’t know much about what it meant to contract with the government, let alone how the business side of the industry worked. During my first few weeks, I asked a lot of questions, absorbed as much information as possible, and immediately put what I learned into practice.
It was a lot to take in, but that early confusion has made the summer even more valuable. I wasn’t just learning a tool or process. I was learning how an entire industry operates.
Developing Continuum Insights
Continuum Insights gives Alpha Omega’s teams a clearer, faster view of operational data. Instead of digging through spreadsheets for days, team members can use a web-based tool to find the information they need in minutes.
The goal isn’t flashy. It’s practical: better visibility and control, a more modern way to analyze internal data, and less time spent searching for numbers so teams can spend more time acting on them.
Before I wrap up for the summer, I’ll help Alpha Omega roll Continuum Insights out to support customers – turning complex data and manual processes into actionable insights. Seeing how technology can improve our own operations has made me excited about the possibility of doing this work in the future, using data, automation, and modern technology to help government agencies operate more efficiently and achieve better mission outcomes.
At first, working on a project that granted me access to company data felt a little intimidating, especially given my limited experience. However, the team’s guidance and confidence in my abilities quickly turned those nerves into excitement.
Soon, Alpha Omega will roll this tool out to their customers. It isn’t a class project that someone grades once and forgets. The company depends on its accuracy, so I have to pay attention to every detail. That responsibility has changed how I think about my work.
Where AI Fits In
One of the biggest surprises this summer has been how much I enjoy learning to work with Claude. Before this internship, I had a skeptical view of AI. I thought it was something lazy students used to produce subpar results that professors often caught, so why bother using it? People also asked me, “Are you scared AI will take your future job?” I always answered no because I figured my own thinking could outpower AI. Plus, if I didn’t use it, I thought there was nothing to worry about.
Using AI to help build a real internal tool has been eye-opening. I’ve learned how to break down a problem so AI can help me solve it efficiently. I know how to check and refine what it returns rather than simply accepting it.
I’ve come to realize that using AI doesn’t remove my own thinking from the equation. Instead, it gives me a tool that can support my day-to-day work. Using Claude has also shown me how Alpha Omega applies AI with impact to improve efficiency while keeping people and their judgment at the center.
Now I can answer that question with more confidence: I’m not scared AI will take my job because I know how to use it as an asset, not as a replacement for my work. I believe this skill will matter much more in this industry—and in my own future—over the next few years. I’m grateful that I get to start building it now instead of later.
An Industry I Didn’t Expect to Like This Much
Government contracting isn’t anything like what I study at school, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. I get to see how a company like Alpha Omega balances speed with accountability, how much thought goes into supporting a mission rather than simply closing a deal, and how much internal discipline it takes to run an organization of this size.
In all honesty, I didn’t expect to find the industry this fascinating or to learn this much from my government contracting internship.
Grateful and Looking Ahead
I’m proud to make an impact at Alpha Omega this summer by helping modernize one aspect of how the company tracks and understands its own data. More than that, I’m grateful that Alpha Omega took a chance on a rising junior who walked in knowing very little about government contracting.
This internship is giving me a real look at the GovCon industry, and it’s motivating me to learn more. I’m extremely blessed to have such a supportive team around me, including COO Eric Laychock; Senior Director Yusuf Raza; my fellow interns; and the rest of the Alpha Omega team. They have encouraged me, patiently answered my questions, and taught me valuable
professional and life lessons.
I’m looking forward to taking everything I’m learning back to school and, eventually, into a career where I can use data and modern technology to make a meaningful impact.
