Kim’s Summer 2025 Engineering Internship at FreeGeek, Toronto, Canada
December 16, 2025 By Kim Duong (Edit)
Read below about Kim Duong’s Summer 2025 as a engineering intern at FreeGeek in Toronto, Canada
This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Toronto, Canada, for an internship that shaped both my professional skills and my personal outlook. I worked with FreeGeek Toronto, an organization dedicated to technology refurbishment and e-waste recycling. As an engineering student who is still considering whether to go straight into the workforce or pursue graduate school, I was eager to experience what a real job looks like outside the classroom. This internship gave me the chance not only to apply what I had learned, but also to explore new skills beyond my field of study and tackle real-world problems in sustainable and socially impactful ways. My time in Toronto offered me a front-row seat to what engineering looks like in practice – not just in the United States, but in an international context.
At FreeGeek, I trained as a refurbishment technician, learning how to repair and rebuild computers and other electronics. The work was hands-on and detail-oriented, from diagnosing hardware issues to installing software and ensuring each device could be reused rather than discarded. Over eight weeks, I refurbished more than 150 laptops and desktops from different brands. This experience taught me the value of sustainability in engineering – understanding that innovation does not only mean creating something new, but also finding ways to extend the life of existing technology. I still remember the moment I got to see and use an Apple computer from the 1980s that had been donated a few years ago – an experience that reminded me of how engineering connects history, innovation, and future possibilities.
Beyond my work at FreeGeek, Toronto itself was an exciting place to explore and call home for the summer. Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and I could feel that vibrancy every day. I often started my mornings with a Tim Hortons coffee, and after work I would cook at home or take long walks to nearby parks and hiking trails. One of my favorite things about the city was how green it was – the tree-lined streets, flowers on every corner, and the abundance of parks made me feel like I could discover a new trail or green space every day.
The weekends were my favorite time to explore. During the summer, Toronto was alive with festivals, and I was fortunate to have a cohort of peers who joined me in exploring the city together. We visited Kensington Market, where street art and music filled the air and food from every corner of the world was available. We strolled along the waterfront at Harbourfront Centre, enjoying concerts and cultural events. I still remember standing at the base of the CN Tower, looking up at a structure that represented Toronto’s ambition and innovation. Later, from the top of the tower, I looked down at the vast cityscape and felt both small and inspired. Over the course of my stay, I also visited around ten different museums, each one teaching me something new about Toronto’s history, art, and identity.
What stood out to me most about Toronto was its strong sense of community. Outside of work, I connected with people from all walks of life, each with their own unique story of how they had come to Toronto. Whether it was conversations at festivals, sharing meals with colleagues, or simply exploring the city with new friends, I always felt surrounded by the warmth and inclusivity of the community.
My internship in Toronto was more than just a professional experience – it was a chapter of personal growth. I learned to approach engineering with a sustainability mindset, to adapt in a fast-paced urban environment, and to appreciate the beauty of cultural diversity. Before this trip, I had never imagined living in another country for several months, but now I know I want to travel more and explore how engineering is practiced across cultures and environments.
The GLOBE Scholarship made this experience possible, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. It not only supported me in traveling but also gave me the space to reflect on my future goals and the kind of engineer I want to become. This hands-on experience also helped me realize how my work connects to medical devices – the field I aspire to pursue after graduation. The feeling of opening up the hardware of a computer, studying its internal components, and bringing it back to life reminded me of the precision and creativity behind robotics and biomedical engineering. It strengthened my passion for becoming an engineer who works with robotic systems that improve people’s lives. Looking back, I see Toronto not just as a city I visited, but as a place where I grew into a more well-rounded version of myself.