Samih Frada

Background

About Samih Frada

As one may say, passion breeds when we are young, and in my case, my path to civil engineering was laid before me when I was a freshman in junior high. On a Monday evening, I just got home, turned on the TV, and found this weird documentary series called 'Megastructures' airing on National Geographic. I was hooked on the spot. So, at the age of 12, I knew that I had no desire of becoming a doctor (sorry, dad) because I would rather contribute to the landscape of buildings and thus leave my fingerprint. From tall skyscrapers and complex stadiums to bridges, railways, and tunnels, I dreamed about how my work would influence where people work, relax, learn, and live. During my college years, I carried out thorough research about my burning passion in construction and had several internships, coupled with great mentorship from many supervisors. Since graduating I've had the chance to work on some exciting projects. For example, as a transportation engineer, I Designed the largest airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a structural engineer, I managed a $1 million project and worked on seismic stability of several housings, public schools and shopping centers. My last position as Project manager gave me the responsibility to tackle big projects on a nation wide scale and thus the opportunity to sharpen my skills. These days, I'm passionately pursuing my dream by attending two of the most prestigious universities not only in France but also in Europe: l'École des Ponts et Chaussées and CentraleSupélec, where I am undertaking a Master's program on large energy structures. This academic endeavor is aimed at acquiring the essential expertise needed to shape the future of my career. I am gearing up to tackle projects ranging from the designs of nuclear power plants to the engineering of dams, offshore platforms, and wind turbines. This journey is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about transforming my diverse skill set into a powerful tool for contributing to and leading in the field of energy projects. When I'm not working, I am usually with my dog, who loves to run and exercise more than I do, watch some nice old movies (I am proud to say that I cried only once during Schindler's list), play video games, and travel whenever I can. I have been a very active CouchSurfing member, hosting people from all over the world when possible and staying with or visiting strangers' houses. I love meeting new people and trying new things, so please feel free to say hello and share a story with me. I'd love to chat.