Entering the Workforce at a Young Age

We caught up with Sam Lapham, DMF '24 to reflect on his time at IYRS and beyond. Sam recently landed a job at Grady White in Greenville, NC as a CNC Programmer.

 

Where are you from originally?

Trumbull, Connecticut 

How did you first learn about IYRS?

My uncle lives in Rhode Island and told me about the school.

How would you describe the Digital Modeling & Fabrication program to someone who had no idea what it was?

Digital design and machining, starting off with hands-on machine work to gain knowledge on software and working up to CNC programming. 

Where did you get your knack for digital modeling?

My high school offered a class with a low grade web page version of CAD that got me hooked. 

Did your goals change from when you first entered IYRS to when you went on externship?

Not really – my goal was to get out into work quickly and that's what the externship and school helped me do. 

Tell us about your externship.

I was at Autodesk in the Boston Seaport district. I worked with composites, making carbon fiber parts. Having access to other shops and start up companies, I was able to work with other equipment like CNC machines, 3d printers, tensile testing machines and more. 

What are some of your favorite restaurants or things to do in Newport?

The Red Parrot was a good spot – whenever I had college buddies visit, we would go there. I also enjoyed heading out to Ocean Drive for the sunsets. 

Tell us about your capstone project.

I’ve mountain biked my whole life and am always working to keep my bike in good shape. But, I never really had a good place to work on it, so I figured I would make a stand. I combined the best parts of two different bike stands, combining appearance and ability to do maintenance into one. My stand includes options to lift the bike off the ground or leave it standing on the ground. 

Is there anything you miss about being at IYRS?

I miss being around younger people and students. Working with adults practically straight out of high school can be a bit lonely. 

What was the most important lesson you learned at IYRS?

Although the equipment and work was more intense than in high school, it was still school and a safe place for mistakes to happen. I learned that mistakes are not something to stress over because it becomes a lesson and only benefits you in the future because you know what to look out for. 

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of school/work?

Snowboarding and martial arts – two things I’ve loved since I was young. They keep me in shape and make life fun. Having something to look forward to every winter and meeting new people through both has given me friends I never would have imagined. 

What are your career goals for the future?

I’d like to be designing and or programming for a company that keeps me interested with new and different work as well as living in an area where I can have a fun life as well. 

What would be your advice for other high schoolers considering IYRS?

Don’t be intimidated by your surroundings. Being young is an advantage – use what you learn and view every externship or job as a step on your learning journey. If your first or second job is not what you want, you have plenty of time to still figure it out. The externship is a great experience. If it doesn’t work out as permanent employment, you're still going into your 20’s with real world job experience and that is something most other people coming out of college do not have.