I am finishing up my second week with the Hertie School for the Centre for Fundamental Rights. During my short time, I have noticed one essential skill that is important to have, which is time management. I know that there are assignments outside of my work schedule that I must complete for this summer course. However, I also have tasks and projects at the work site that also require time to complete. When I first started my first week was very lite regarding tasks and projects. The second week I started having more assignment and due dates to get them done. Time management is a skill that needs to be mastered in order to be successful in your work life and outside.
Being a student there needs to be time management in place to be successful in the classes you take. Some students take varies numbers of classes a semester. I usually take six to seven classes. When I first start taking classes I read through all of the syllabuses and makr important due dates. If there are any major exams that are involved I make sure to mark them down. During the semester you have to identify what needs to be prioritized. The day-to-day academic life also requires structure. Making sure to find time during the day to study on certain classes is crucial to being successful. I would usually review concepts that are taught in lecture right after to make sure a retain the information. If there are question about any projects or assignments I need to ask the professor well in advance before the due date.
One of the things that I have used to help me to plan out how to manage my academic work has been to write everything out in a calendar. Some people might use google calendar or other electronic methods. Physically writing out my assignments helps me remember them better. I also use the calendar to plan my day-to-day schedule. I will mark down my class time and areas during the day to study. I think that using this methods of recording important dates will be beneficial in the professional field. While, interning I have used this to help me stay on top of work assignments.
When it comes to my current internship with the Centre for Fundamental writes time management is essential. FOr the next several week I am working with the events and communication team to plan the graduation for the Masters and PhD students. The planning for the event will take place over the next few weeks. Given the importance of the event it is crucial that I meet my deadlines. I am helping the events team with figuring out seating arrangements. I am alos helping the communications with marketing the graduation and sending emails. I have to plan my day-to-day schedule on how to balance my time. There are going to be a few days where I am helping the events or communication teams. I have marked down in my calendar where I need to be for certain meetings. There is also an excel sheet that I have created with the times and dates of certain tasks that needs to be completed.
There are going to be time were there might be interruptions are plan changes and you have to be able to adapt quickly. There have been time where I would be reading research paper and then be asked to help with an event. The have been times where I have been asked to help with something or change directions on a current task. It is also important to communicate with the proper people to clarify that you are on track. Making sure that you have a complete understanding of your task or assignment before the due date is crucial. Being in a situation where you are scrambling at the last minute will leave a bad impression.
The internship is one part of the program. There are weekly blogs and discussion boards that student have to keep up with. This is something that I have to factor into my day-to-day schedule. On my first week in Berlin I planned out times in the evening where I would spend time to work on writing my blog posts and respond to discussion boards. I have see this has a useful methods as it has helped me stay on top of my course work. This methods has also helped me keep up with my tasks at my internship. I am able to complete everything during the working hours. This then leave me time in the evening for academic work.
