Hello everyone!
I’m Florentin Lejeune and I’m currently in my final year at École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris, specializing in structural and civil engineering. Last year, I took a gap year to step out of the academic bubble, get some real-world experience, and figure out what I truly want for my future. And what better way to do that than by heading to New York? Living and working in such a vibrant city, surrounded by talented people from all over the world, was an experience I’ll never forget.
I had the amazing opportunity to spend a year at Gilsanz Murray Steficek (GMS), where I got to work on exciting projects and learn so much from an incredible team. It was a challenging, eye-opening, and rewarding year. But all good things must come to an end. After wrapping up my internship, I headed back to France to finish my final semester of studies.
While back home, I stayed in touch with GMS, and after some discussion, we came up with a topic to work on for my master’s thesis. It aligns with both the academic requirements of my master’s thesis and the company’s needs—while also being a topic I am genuinely excited to explore! And just like that, the idea of returning to New York was back on the table!
With everything falling into place, I reached out to Architect-US (an organization recommended by GMS) to help sort out my J-1 Visa. They’ve madethe process smooth. Right now, I’m enjoying my last few days at home in the south of France, taking in the fresh air and going on some hikes before things get busy again. But soon, it’ll be time to pack my bags, and in just a few days, I’ll be flying back to NYC to kick off this new adventure!
