We continue our "Zoom on" interview series. Our next interviewee is Ethan Legrand (Class 2024), former intern at PSPM Plastic System, PA, USA
AFAM: Hello Ethan and thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. You have been doing a 3-months internship at PSPM Plastic System in Pennsylvania. Please tell us a few words about your internship.
Ethan: I discovered this opportunity through my apprenticeship company in France, SN Caulonque, where I work as a mold designer specialized in plastic injection. PSPM is a client of my French company, which uses the molds we design to inject plastic products.
During these 3 months, I had the opportunity to see our molds operating in a real production environment. I also worked for their maintenance and the machines maintenance (injection molding machine, robotics...). This experience was really valuable for me as a future engineer specialized in plastic injection molding.
AFAM: Ethan, you hold a Bachelor degree from Arts et Metiers and since 2024 you are in an apprenticeship Arts et Metiers program. Please tell us a bit about your move from the bachelor towards an apprenticeship program. What challenges did you face?
Ethan: The level of expectations has significantly increased, making it more difficult to balance courses with my apprenticeship. Over the last few months, I improved my capacity to anticipate tasks and organize my time more efficiently.
AFAM: Hello Ethan and thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. You have been doing a 3-months internship at PSPM Plastic System in Pennsylvania. Please tell us a few words about your internship.
Ethan: I discovered this opportunity through my apprenticeship company in France, SN Caulonque, where I work as a mold designer specialized in plastic injection. PSPM is a client of my French company, which uses the molds we design to inject plastic products.
During these 3 months, I had the opportunity to see our molds operating in a real production environment. I also worked for their maintenance and the machines maintenance (injection molding machine, robotics...). This experience was really valuable for me as a future engineer specialized in plastic injection molding.
AFAM: Ethan, you hold a Bachelor degree from Arts et Metiers and since 2024 you are in an apprenticeship Arts et Metiers program. Please tell us a bit about your move from the bachelor towards an apprenticeship program. What challenges did you face?
Ethan: The level of expectations has significantly increased, making it more difficult to balance courses with my apprenticeship. Over the last few months, I improved my capacity to anticipate tasks and organize my time more efficiently.
AFAM: What surprised you the most about American culture in general and working culture in particular? Anything you would like to share?
Ethan: I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly decisions were made within the company. My colleagues were also really responsive to emails. It was pleasant to work in such an environment and to see the results on a daily basis. More generally, people were really kind and polite.
AFAM: you spent summer 2025 in the United States. How did you enjoy your free time outside of work?
Ethan: My accommodation was conveniently located so I had the possibility to see a lot of places during my stay. I visited several major cities such as New York City, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls... It was interesting to see different cities and places as their atmospheres are completely different. I enjoyed attending local football and baseball games too. My colleagues also invited me to join them in various activities such as visiting a safari, dining out together...
AFAM: what can you say about the Shasta program offered by AFAM? What piece of advice would you give to an engineering student who would like to find an internship in the USA?
Ethan: The Shasta grant was really helpful for me. I received the funds directly to my Paypal account in US dollars, which made it easier to pay within the country (no change rate). Moreover, a lot of online shops in the US accept paypal as a payment method.
If I could give some advice to someone looking for an internship in the US, it would be to plan it well in advance. In particular the visa process takes a considerable amount of time. That said, going to the United States is an unforgettable experience. I significantly improved my English and I was glad to discover the American culture.
AFAM: thank you, Ethan and all the best in your future endeavors!
At PSPM Plastic System
At Niagara Falls
Manhattan Bridge in New York City
All pictures: courtesy of Ethan
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