My first week interning in Berlin felt like I was playing in a Roblox game. Not because the 9 to 5 makes me feel like I’m in a simulation (I mean, maybe), but because everything here just looks so visually appealing and perfect. The desks, tables, chairs, portraits, windows, and hallways are all some form of cubes, rectangles, squares. Perhaps, it’s just IKEA in the making, but everything looks so structured, that I feel like I’m walking in a 3D world from a flatscreen computer. Even the grocery store’s parking where the team breaks for lunch looks so insanely cubed in the most perfect way possible. The parking lines are so perfectly white, the cars pull up and park in the most perfect form, the people walk in the most perfect line- it’s quite hard to describe and explain. I like it here though – it’s calming.

My commute to the internship is about an hour, and I’ve got options. I could take the U-Bahn and transfer to the S-Bahn for a quicker route, or take the bus and transfer back underground. Technically, the first route saves me about 20 minutes—but after the S-Bahn left me stranded in pouring rain with a spontaneous two-bus, extra hour reroute, I decided I prefer reliability over speed, so I opt for the bus-to-U-Bahn combo. It’s slower, but dependable. And honestly, I don’t mind it. The stop where I get off has a beautiful mall that feels more like a permanent farmers market: one store sells just olive oils, another just freshly baked bread, another offers cheeses that look like they belong in a gallery. I usually grab something small from one of the bakeries before heading into the office—a little energy boost. Right outside, there’s one of Berlin’s famous strawberry stands—painted and shaped like a strawberry itself. I’ve yet to try the berries, but they’ve become a cheerful marker of my morning routine, so juicy and plump.

At Vencon Research, time management is taken very seriously. Everyone arrives exactly when they say they will. Meetings begin on the dot, end on the dot. The entire team breaks for lunch at 1:00 PM sharp, every day, without fail, as if it’s government mandated. I’ve grown to appreciate that rhythm. It’s taught me to stay on top of my work and to structure my day with a new level of precision. This consistency has also helped me develop a sharper sense of discipline and urgency in my work. I always prioritize tasks immediately once they are assigned, not only to meet deadlines, but also to provide my supervisors with adequate time for review and feedback. This proactive approach has proven especially important given the nature of my work, where assignments can be given with only a few hours’ notice—such as preparing a client proposal or presentation to be reviewed before an upcoming meeting scheduled to happen in only a handful of hours.

All of my responsibilities—tasks, meetings, and trainings—are scheduled directly on my Outlook calendar. Since meetings can be added last-minute, I check my calendar frequently to avoid missing anything and to stay prepared. On average, I attend about four meetings a day, often with different departments, each lasting around an hour. Between those, I have assignments—some routine, some time-sensitive, others last minute. I rely on calendar alerts, reminders, and strong task management to stay on track.

Strong time management has become essential, and the need to prioritize flexibility and focus is heightened, especially as I rotate through various departments and gain new information, adapting to different work environments and projects. However, I see this as a privilege—an opportunity to gain a holistic understanding of the company and its operations, and to explore different aspects of consulting and compensation research. I’m not just learning how to complete a task—I’m learning how people interact with systems, make decisions, and shape the workplace through structure and data.

As a psychology major, I approach my work with a behavioral and human-centered lens. I’m especially interested in understanding how compensation trends reflect organizational decisions, employee motivations, and broader labor market dynamics. The ability to interpret complex data while maintaining sensitivity to cultural and ethical considerations is essential in this field, and I’m grateful to be building those competencies in a global setting.

Sometimes, when the weather’s nice, I’ll take walks around the building, situated quietly behind the bustling streets filled with cafes and shops. It’s perfectly secluded, surrounded by greenery—lush plants, flower beds, and a small wooden playground that’s surprisingly well-kept. Those walks are so peaceful, taking you away from reality for a brief moment for some reflection amidst the chirping of the birds.

After work, I’d go exploring different parts of the city. Today, I went to touch the Berlin Wall to make sure it was real. I quickly checked on the east side of the wall to make sure my dad wasn’t still held captive under communist regime. Then, I sent him an image from the west side of the wall. It felt like I playing “Escape the Soviets: Climb the Berlin Wall” on Roblox or something, except I was the winner. Ironic how I chose to come here after work.

This week has reminded me that managing time isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about intention. I don’t have control over every delay or detour, but I can control how I respond, how I prioritize, and how I show up and excel my responsibilities. Whether it’s navigating Berlin’s transit maze or preparing a proposal on a tight deadline, I’m learning to move with purpose—and to always keep an umbrella on hand, just in case.