When Mohamed Ali arrived at the University of Southern Maine, he expected college to follow a simple formula: Go to class, graduate, and move on.
That all changed during his sophomore year, when a peer introduced him to USM’s Career & Employment Hub — a resource he hadn’t considered.
Three internships later, the senior business analytics student says those opportunities reshaped his college experience, helping him to build practical skills, confidence, and a clearer path toward his future.
A new direction
Ali arrived at USM with an interest in technology, while still shaping how he wanted to apply it. He was drawn to work that balanced technical skills with communication and problem-solving.
“I wanted to do something related to tech, but also in the space of business,” Ali said. “I didn’t want to just be sitting behind a desk or a computer for like ten hours coding.”
A recommendation from a friend pointed him toward business analytics, a field that brought those interests together.
“It was kind of a combination of business and talking to people face to face, but also having that tech side where you’re working with computers,” he said.
That sense of direction grew clearer once he began applying it outside the classroom.
From classroom learning to real-world work
Ali’s first internship with the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council changed his whole trajectory. Working in a professional setting gave him his first opportunity to connect coursework with real-world applications, seeing how data and business decisions come together in practice.
That experience shaped how he approached the rest of his time at USM. Instead of waiting until graduation, he began building experience alongside his education.
“The more the merrier,” Ali said. “I just wanted to get as much experience as possible.”
Learning through experience
At IDEXX Laboratories, a Maine-based veterinary diagnostics and software company, Ali encountered one of his biggest hurdles.
The expectation was to contribute from the start. He had to learn quickly, often without a clear starting point, while keeping up with the pace of a professional environment.
“During the first couple weeks, I was forced into learning how to code in a language I hadn’t learned yet by myself through YouTube videos,” Ali said. “I might have watched — I can’t even tell you how many videos, trying to figure it out.”
Progress came through repetition and determination.
“There were times where I’d just sit there frustrated, thinking there’s no end to this,” he said.
With support from mentors at Idexx, he says work that once felt overwhelming quickly became something he could navigate with clarity and ease.
“I think that was probably my most challenging time,” he said. “After I got the hang of it, it was pretty straightforward.”
Finding purpose and voice
By the time Ali moved into his third internship at Slix Pix, an interactive digital experience and design studio, his approach had shifted. He entered the role with experience across multiple environments and a growing ability to contribute in different ways.
At Slix Pix, that meant working across both the technical and business sides of projects. He supported data-driven work while collaborating with team members on digital experiences and client-facing deliverables, building on skills he had developed in earlier roles while continuing to expand how he worked within team based environments.
Each interaction added to that growth.
He began to trust his ability to step into new situations, ask questions, and contribute with purpose.
Back in the classroom, that experience showed up in how he engaged, spoke up, and approached his work with more clarity.
A different outlook
With graduation approaching, Ali is reflecting on his years at USM.
What began as a plan centered on completing coursework has grown into an experience defined by applying knowledge in real time, building practical skills, and developing confidence through experience.
“Coming out on the other side makes you stronger,” Ali said. “More able to weather the storm.”
Now, as a resident assistant in campus housing, he encourages other students to take advantage of those same opportunities.
“I tell my residents all the time to connect with someone at the Career Hub,” Ali said. “I wish I had done it even earlier.”
Bonus: What song have you had on repeat lately?
Raindance (feat. Tems)
Dave
