This week at Flynn O’Driscoll, I found myself doing many interesting and meaningful tasks. Laura and I went on a coffee run, and it made me realize that I had grown up with the idea that internships did not involve real work. I used to think they were basically receptionist jobs where I would spend my days getting coffee and lunch. Obviously, that has not been the case. My team has given me meaningful responsibilities that have become more challenging over time, which has broadened my knowledge in many areas, especially Excel and accounting software. As I reflect on my experience so far, I realize that everything I have learned is extremely valuable and transferable to a future internship or career.

In addition to the coffee run, I had another unique opportunity with my company when we visited the Galway office. I met one of the partners and received a tour of the facility. Since I am staying in Dublin, the trip to Galway took about two and a half hours each way. To pass the time on the bus, I talked with the other interns and played games like 20 Questions. Being with 12 other interns has been such a great experience, and now that I have spent time with two cohorts of interns, I have made 24 new friends in Ireland. I have always been a social butterfly, but I think my experience would have been very different if I had not had other people my age learning and growing alongside me. Since I had not been around for the previous two weekends, I was worried that I would not be able to build strong friendships with the new interns, but the Galway trip made it easy to get to know everyone.

With the tasks I have been working on, I have done my best to complete assignments without asking too many follow-up questions. Instead, I try to work through the assignment independently and then review my work once I have finished. Most of the time, my assumptions about how to complete the assignments are correct, but reviewing my work with my manager is always helpful because it allows me to double-check my work and present my findings. One of my most recent assignments was especially important because, during my review with my manager, I discovered errors in a previous data analysis. By identifying these mistakes, I was able to update a report that helps ensure the company remains in compliance with the Solicitors Accounts Regulations, which are part of what the company is audited on.

The level of communication varies depending on who I am working with. My direct manager provides a lot of guidance, which I appreciate, while others give me much less direction. I am comfortable with both approaches because I learn from my mistakes. Overall, I prefer the communication style here because I feel that my coworkers trust me enough to work independently and solve problems on my own.

I also experienced a recent miscommunication that challenged me this week. I was working on an Excel file that was stored on a shared drive used by the entire finance team. I believed I was working on the correct file, but I had accidentally opened the original version instead of the updated one. After spending nearly three hours working on it, I realized that none of my work was on the correct document. Although it was a simple mistake, it was frustrating because I had to start over. Fortunately, Raj, the Head of Finance, was extremely understanding and reassured me that mistakes like this happen. This experience showed me that while communication in the workplace can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, having supportive coworkers and managers makes it much easier to overcome those challenges. It also reinforced the importance of confirming that I have the correct information before investing significant time in a task. As I approach my final week of work I know I have built a foundation for myself. My goal is to complete some of my final tasks and say my goodbyes with everyone. With tag rugby being cancelled this week I have made it a point to go to each floor and say goodbye. Luckily this Friday is the summer party for my company so I will be able to say goodbye to everyone there.