Edwin

The next edition of our Community Spotlight series features Xinchang Gao. Xinchang, who is also known as Edwin, is a Junior Interior Designer at Bennett Leifer Interior, an interior design firm focused on high-end residential projects across the states. Edwin graduated from Pratt Institute in 2019 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts and Interior Design. Edwin was introduced to Beam Center through our Apprenticeship program in 2014 at Brooklyn International High School, with whom Beam has been in partnership since 2013. 

Inventgenuity 2016

Speaking about his experience with the Apprenticeship program, Edwin says it helped him gain confidence and motivated him to actively participate in the program. “I was definitely more confident and more comfortable with my skill set. Before I joined Beam Center, I can say I wasn’t really motivated, so after I joined Beam Center I was really motivated. It kind of lit my passion so it definitely motivated me a lot and encouraged me a lot.” Edwin also says that he enjoyed learning different skill sets that he didn’t know before. “I was really intrigued by this program because there’s not a lot of opportunities out there during that time, and I really enjoyed doing woodworking [and] metalworking, something that is very skillful that provided many skill sets in my later career.”  

After participating in the Apprenticeship program, Edwin was hired as an assistant to help with our after school programs. Later in 11th grade he chose Beam as his school internship, and then he went to Beam Camp in 2016 as a staff assistant. When asked what his experience at Beam Camp was like, Edwin says, “I think that was one of the best experiences I ever had during my lifetime, because it was my first time being out in the woods, experiencing nature, and working by myself [being away from the city and family].” 

When asked what he thinks is special about Beam Center, Edwin says, “It makes you believe you are capable of doing anything as long as you believe in yourself with the action. Beam has impacted me so much since I first joined this program during my high school time. I was able to experience the different tools, and I was able to discover different opportunities, like what I want to do with my future.” Edwin also adds that he was able to attend Pratt Institute because of the scholarship he got by showing the work he had done at Beam Center. He says, “I was able to apply to college and get a scholarship from college because of the experience I had. My mentor Brett [former Beam staff] helped me build my portfolio. And still today I feel like I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t join Beam Center. I wasn’t really sure who I wanted to be or what I wanted to do until I kind of put myself into the position.” Edwin hopes to continue to pursue his academic career and wants to get a masters degree in architecture so that he can be licensed and create his own projects. 

Beam Center is grateful to have people like Edwin as part of our community. Thank you Edwin for sharing your journey through Beam!