For my STEP signature project I did a summer internship. I worked as a Mechanical Engineering Intern at ITW Shakeproof in the Chicago area. My main role was to work on a project designing and making a prototype of a machine. I used 3D modeling, machining, and programming.
I learned a lot during my project both technically and about myself. On the technical side I learned about the manufacturing world and about the process of a design project. I had not worked in manufacturing before so it was very insightful. I learned a lot about my preferences and how I work. I was working alone a lot of the time and that was kind of hard because I like to have people to bounce ideas off of and to be affirmed through the process. I think it also makes it more fun and interesting interacting with other people and hearing their ideas.
I lived with roommates that I didn’t know before and ended up having a great time. I learned that I really value relationships and like living with people rather than on my own. I also learned how to set my own schedule in terms of post-school life. I was able to create a balance of work, exercise, making food, relaxing by myself, and hanging out with friends.
I learned a lot of the technical things at work from my manager. He took time to take me around the plant and explain everything that happens even though it wasn’t something I needed to directly know. I appreciated that because it helped me understand the company more and how what I was doing would impact the process overall. My manager also gave me the opportunity to do header training which is how to use one of the machines in screw making. Even though I was not doing that job, I really appreciated the insight to how it works and knowing what other people in the plant do.
During my internship there were events for the interns both for fun and for career development. One of the events we did a DiSC assessment which is about workplace preferences and priorities and how you connect best with colleagues. The four categories are dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness. I learned that I fall in the SC style which is steadiness and conscientiousness. I like clear set expectations and I like following procedures. Knowing these and the other things that the assessment showed will help me in my future work places and in relationships in general.
Living with the roommates I had this summer was an amazing experience. I was a little nervous living with people I had never met before but it ended up being a huge blessing. My roommates were also interns at ITW but for a different division. I appreciated having people to hang out with after work and to go places with on the weekend. Being in a new city where I didn’t know anyone, it was really nice having people to do things with. I also met other people through them because there were more interns at their office than at mine so I met those other interns through them. This opens up my opportunities of where I might work in the future because I am less nervous about living somewhere away from my current friends and my family.
These thing that I have learned will help me be a better employee and friend. I know more about manufacturing so if I would go into that I have experience. I also know the manufacturing side wasn’t my favorite because I got to experience it so I can look for opportunities in different business sectors. Knowing more about myself and how I work and relate to others will help me understand the roles I tend to take and use those to my advantage and I also know what areas I can grow more in. Learning how to love more independently was a great experience and a peek into what post-graduation life will be like. I learned so much from all aspects of my project and I am so grateful for the amazing experience.