Hector Amaya

"The people at YPIE were so important to my learning and my life."

• Palisade Preparatory School (now Barack Obama School for Social Justice)

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Computer Engineering, Class of 2027

• Simulation Hardware Intern, Boeing (Summer 2026)

• YPIE Mentors: Shaina (College Advisor), Raissa (College Success Advisor), Roddy (Career Connections Mentor)

When did you first get involved with YPIE?

YPIE had a College Center where I went to high school. Our guidance counselor told our ninth-grade class about it and explained how YPIE could help us prepare for and apply to college. I joined with a group of my friends because I wanted SAT prep and help with college applications.

As a first-generation college student, I knew very little about the college process. I truly needed all the help YPIE offered.

I also participated in YPIE's Debate Major. They brought in lawyers who talked about how learning to debate and build an argument helped them throughout their careers.

How did YPIE help prepare you for college?

My YPIE advisor, Shaina, helped me with everything. She answered my questions about financial aid, helped me explore different colleges, and recommended that I look at RPI.

At the time, I was interested in computer science. YPIE ignited the flame by introducing me to ALLStarCode, a highly selective six-week summer computer science program. I applied, was accepted, and they even shipped me my first computer. Before that, I had never owned one.

The program introduced me to coding, brought us to Google's New York headquarters, introduced us to their staff, and gave us the chance to compete in a Hackathon. My team built an online piano that people could play using only a computer keyboard, and we won second place.

How did YPIE continue to support you in college?

The people at YPIE were so important to my learning and my life. I always felt like I could rely on everyone at YPIE.

Raissa, my YPIE College Success Advisor, stayed in touch with me throughout college. During my sophomore year at RPI, my GPA dropped because of the more difficult courses I was taking. I started questioning whether I belonged there.

Raissa reminded me that it wasn't the end of the world. She encouraged me to seek tutoring, take advantage of campus resources, and keep believing in myself. Her advice pulled me through, turned me around, and showed me that with the right help, I could succeed.

Because of that support, I got back on track. Today I'm entering my senior year, majoring in Computer Engineering. Along the way, I discovered I really enjoy building computer hardware and circuits, so I changed my major and have loved it ever since.

How did YPIE help prepare you for your career?

My Career Connections mentor, Roddy Austin, helped me tremendously as I prepared for internships.

We practiced mock interviews, worked on my resume, and talked about the professional skills I would need to succeed. I still remember him telling me, "Sometimes you get hit with a question you're not ready for." He taught me how to prepare thoughtful answers and feel confident talking about myself.

Roddy also connected me with a paid internship at Levitt-Furst Insurance before my senior year of high school. It was my first experience working in an office and helped me understand what the professional world was like.

Tell us about your summer internship at Boeing

I joined the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at RPI, which has been one of the best decisions I've made. It has helped me build friendships, practice networking, and attend engineering conferences across the country. As a member of the executive board, I attended the annual conference in Salt Lake City. It was my first time on an airplane.

Through a career fair at school, I met recruiters from Boeing. The Boeing recruiter told me she admired my passion. After two interviews, I was offered a summer internship as a Simulation Hardware Intern in St. Louis.

It's a paid internship with housing support, and I'll be working on simulation hardware and circuits. I couldn't be any luckier. It's an incredible opportunity, and I'm excited to learn as much as I can.

My goal is to learn as much as I can about this field before committing to one aspect of it. There's so much to do in this industry, and I'm excited to be a part of it.

What advice would you give to current YPIE students?

Take full advantage of your time in high school and college. The resources are there, but you have to go out and grab them.

I took full advantage of YPIE's help and resources. Then, when I got to college, I joined clubs, met new people, asked for help when I needed it, and kept looking for new opportunities.

Those experiences opened doors that I never imagined possible.