When I first started with Sweete, I was definitely faced with a big amount of uncertainty. Stepping into this new role was exciting and scary, as it required me to adapt quickly to a workplace environment and dynamics I was unfamiliar with. My specialty lies in tech-related matters, which means I have a particular set of skills ready to be utilized. However, on my very first day, I was assigned exclusively to phone calls, which was somewhat unexpected. While it’s common for interns to take on many more humble tasks and do what some might call “intern things”, I felt the need to advocate for myself to ensure that this wouldn’t be the only type of work I was tasked with throughout my internship. After gathering the courage to express my concerns, I am happy to say that I have been allowed to watch and actively participate in the progress of their web development project, which has been incredibly exciting and fulfilling! Although I still continue to take calls and tackle business administration tasks, I am genuinely happy with the balance I am experiencing between both types of work. I am really looking forward to delving deeper into the web development aspect. Once the website is fully developed, I expect to see how it will be integrated with other tasks in the office. I also plan to help make notes and implement gradual changes to the website to enhance its efficiency and usability further, which I believe is crucial in a tech-driven environment.
Working with large data sets can often feel like a workout for the brain, making it feel like mush after long periods of processing information. If you’ve ever had the experience of working in web development, you know exactly what I mean by this. The sheer amount of data can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when maintaining accuracy and efficiency. Additionally, I am collaborating with someone whose first language is not English, which adds another layer of complexity to developing this site. Miscommunication can occasionally occur, leading to challenges we must steer through together. To cite a recent incident demonstrating this, I had been instructed to format a substantial amount of data for an Excel sheet intended for integration into the website’s database. Unfortunately, the instructions I received were inadvertently miscommunicated, resulting in me completing about an hour’s worth of work incorrectly. In that moment, I grappled with frustration, particularly as the day drew to a close and my cognitive resources were dwindling. Despite this setback, I gathered my thoughts, pulled myself together, and shifted into full work mode, completing the list accurately before the end of the day. I managed to meet the given deadline for that particular part of the site, which was a small victory amid my challenging first days at Sweete.
I am currently taking a little break from work to write this, enjoying some time during my lunch hour. As I sit here, I can’t help but reflect on a particular miscommunication that has come to mind, specifically regarding how I approach my lunchtime. It’s really nothing major, but it’s interesting enough to share. At home, I have grown so accustomed to a very brief lunch break, typically lasting only about 30 minutes. This habit carried over into my first week at work; I found myself sticking to my usual routine and taking just a half-hour lunch every single day.
It wasn’t long before someone at the office noticed my pattern. I was eating my meals incredibly quickly, then promptly returning to my desk to dive back into my work. I hadn’t even given any thought to the lunch habits of my coworkers. Most of them seemed to take the full hour to recharge, often opting to eat at their desks while continuing with their tasks. It was kinda funny when my boss pointed this out to me. I could hardly believe that I had been missing out on that extra time, so much potential to relax and unwind! Now, sitting here with my meal, I feel a sense of appreciation for the hour I have, which allows me to take a breather and enjoy my lunch leisurely. If only I had realized sooner that taking a full hour was acceptable and encouraged!
This revelation makes me reflect on how important it is to take advantage of our breaks, to step away from our work and recharge properly, rather than rushing through meals and missing out on precious moments that can bring a bit of joy to our busy day-to-day lives.