This summer, Mariah Lieberman is gaining hands-on experience in Bloomington, Illinois, as a property and casualty actuarial analyst intern at State Farm, where she focuses on analyzing Texas automotive data.
Mariah attended many career fairs and used them as a way to learn about different companies and explore different organizations that aligned with her career goals.
“I would recommend going to career fairs even as a freshman. It is always good to start looking and applying for internships,” said Mariah.
During her internship with State Farm, Mariah's project has centered on analyzing Texas automotive data while working closely with her team, using SQL to pull data, to present their findings to the company.
“I am working on a singular project over the whole summer and am very proud of the work I have done so far,” Mariah said. “The project is very open-ended, so I am proud that I have narrowed down my focus and brought creative insights to my team.”
This position has allowed Mariah to accomplish professional goals while gaining confidence in her abilities.
“My biggest accomplishment during my internship so far has been my ability to take criticism and setbacks and turn them into encouragement. I am grateful to be given this opportunity and see each time that I could feel discouraged as a reason to try harder and be better. This internship is meant for me to learn, and only through these criticisms and setbacks will I be able to grow,” Mariah said.
These skills she is developing through this internship are strengthening not only her technical knowledge, but also her professional confidence and career readiness.
“This role is preparing me for my future career by giving me a project that a full-time employee would otherwise be doing while also allowing me to work with and learn from full-time employees,” said Mariah.
On campus, Mariah is very involved and has grown her leadership skills through student organizations. She currently serves as president of the Actuarial Science Club and previously served as treasurer of Hillel, a cultural chapter.
“After graduation, I aspire to earn my fellowship and become a P&C Senior Actuary,” said Mariah.
By embracing challenges, learning from feedback and gaining hands-on experience, Mariah is building the confidence and skills that will serve her well throughout her actuarial career.
