GLOBAL Alert Overide

Vight condensed lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergr sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consedipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua.

Add Text
Second Button
Skip to main content
Parent Department University of Florida

Experience the Power of Innovation

By Julen Arriaga

Julen Arriaga (he/him) is a junior pursuing a major in Information Systems through the Warrington College of Business and a minor in Innovation. He is currently an Innovation Academy ambassador and interns at an engineering startup in Gainesville, FL.

Julen Arriaga

First of all, my name is Julen Arriaga (he/him). I was born and raised in South Florida where I come from a small Spanish and Puerto Rican family. I am a rising junior majoring in information systems with a minor in innovation. I have been in the Innovation Academy for about two years, and I have learned countless things. Before entering UF, I was in a troubled place. My life changed after my freshman year at the Innovation Academy Living Learning Community. 

The classrooms and the environment were like a breath of fresh air to my other business-related classes. The teachers fostered a proactive classroom where ideas of all shapes and sizes were cultivated. In addition, the teachers were easy to talk to due to their empathy for students and the small classroom size. The coursework itself was fun and engaging because it linked all types of realistic problems, from minor personal ones to institutional issues, with our creative spark. The work is purposeful and allows the students to be their best. My bonds went past the classroom, I made real friends whom I was able to relate and grow with. This eventually inspired me to join the Innovation Academy Ambassadors program where I was able to spread my passion for the Innovation Academy process and develop a tight friend group to keep throughout my college experience. Plus, I was able to show leadership and management skills to enhance my professional abilities. Through the program, I led the professional development committee and enjoyed numerous events planned by the engagement committee.  My favorite part of the ambassador program was the opportunity to speak to prospective students and nervous parents. At events like UF Preview, Launch, and office hours, I was able to inform students and relax parents by explaining the Innovation Academy and giving a student’s perspective. 

This fantastic time did come with some conflict, but they were all worth it. If I had to do it again, I would 100% of the time.  

Currently, I am an intern at a startup engineering firm located in Gainesville—an opportunity made available to me through the Innovation Academy internship program. We are currently working on marketing products to businesses through social media. This internship will further develop my real-world applications of the topics learned in the Innovation Academy. In addition, I am planning future internship opportunities for next summer since the Innovation Academy program generates a lot of interest among companies and job recruiters. I have explained to venture capitalists, database managers, and consulting companies what the Innovation Academy is, and they explain the importance of having the type of mindset that the program cultivates. The ideas and lessons learned through the Innovation Academy are valuable for employers. 

When I leave the Innovation Academy, I want to ensure that I continue to grow the mindset that the program created. The ability to think emphatically, strategically, and ambitiously about various problems, and when I do fail, I fail gracefully.  In addition, I wish to think creatively and always ask, “How might we?”