My STEP Signature Project was working with the Global Capstone program to help the Marwa Village in Tanzania have access to clean water sources. The project, working with Kilimanjaro Hope Organization and the people of Marwa, brought together engineers of other disciplines around OSU to design a flow sensor for the recently constructed rainwater harvesting tanks in the village, in order to have a better understanding of the tanks’ usage patterns. The device would be controlled by an Arduino board, with a flow sensor to analyze the speed of the water and the total amount of outflow and would come in a full assembly that could attach directly to the outlet pipe of the tank to the pump that is used to collect the water. The other engineers and I worked on designing and coding a sensor that can easily attach to the tank, with relatively little needs for maintenance or additional operation. Thanks to partnering with STEP on this project, we were able to go above and beyond the expectations on this project and make some real progress within the first semester, having an initial prototype by the end and expanding our scope to cover other issues in the community.

Villages along the Pangani River in Tanzania dealing with water scarcity.

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I think the main transformations that occurred during my project was gaining a better understanding of what global humanitarian engineering was. While I had read several articles and heard plenty of professors discussing the topic, I had only an idealized notion of what it all entailed. I had only heard about different programs and organizations, learning about their efforts from afar. But this doesn’t teach someone about the problem-solving process, nor all the cultural struggles faced in the engineering work. And so Global Capstone program provided that opportunity to participate in a hands-on humanitarian engineering project. Through each portion of the program, I faced both expected and unexpected challenges form working a global context. Understanding the values and culture of the Marwa people, deciding in what ways the project benefited the Tanzanian people and in what ways it benefited the OSU partners running the project, and designing in regard to the degree of integration to the Marwa village. Working on our prototype design guided my thinking from more high-tech, high-cost solutions that are typical in places like America and Europe, to a focus on working with the Marwa culture and technology. And being able to not only meet all of the necessary criteria of the capstone but go even further and think of further solutions to problems showed me how to think in the bigger picture for these communities.  I was finally starting to see how I, as an engineer, can take the lessons and subjects from my education and put that into a real-life context to improve the world and pass on these lessons to others. And so, the Global Capstone project helped me not just become a mechanical engineer, but a humanitarian engineer as well.

The other main transformation was understanding how to think and work in a global context. The in-lecture discussions taught more of the soft skills of engineering across national borders. Communication, conflict resolution, understanding cultural biases, presenting information, learning about the rules and traditions of other people, and effective coping methods were all discussed in length throughout the semester. While these are skills taught through other courses and experiences, these focused much more on interactions across countries, religions, and just cultures in general. They were meant to help us tackle the challenges that engineering on a global scale would bring, especially in interacting with people. These lessons forced us to broaden our thinking, to both think and understand of our place in the world while also effectively bridging the gaps with other people that have vastly different lives than our own. Through this work, I feel much more confident in my ability to work globally, and much more inspired to tackle these challenges. Because while thinking global goes much beyond the comfortable sphere we typically surround ourselves in on a daily basis, this course opened my eyes to the ways to achieve this and the rich benefits this could bring to all.

One of the rainwater harvesting tanks (RWH) in the Marwa Village.

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The specific instances that brought about this transformation were primarily the interactions that I had with the professors and other speakers involved in the capstone.

We had weekly meetings with the professors, Patrick Sours and Michael Hagenberger, to discuss the progress of our work and to clarify any concerns or issues we had encountered. Each of these meetings were very eye-opening, as the professors had years of experience in academia and out in the field with humanitarian engineering, having traveled to the Marwa Village several times and establishing the project we were working on. So, they provided insight into a people and community that COVID and lack of internet or cellular service has prevented us from interacting with. So many times, while we were working and thinking we were focusing on the right designs or considering a specific technology to use, the professors would remind us of who the people were that we were actually designing for. They would teach us about aspects of the region and the Marwa culture to better understand what our project can achieve, and what are the challenges in not only finishing the project but designing something that can be implemented in long-term development there. This really came into play as we went outside the initial goals of the project, bringing in new idea proposals to see what issues we could solve with our flow sensor prototype.

A prime example of this was deciding how to transmit data from the sensor and how to power the flow sensor. As previously mentioned, the Marwa village lacks internet service and cellular connection is shoddy. So, the other engineers and I initially tried thinking of ways through 2G cellular signals to transmit the data over text, as well as having an SD card to store data and utilize a special function for the Arduino board called EEPROM to write data to the board itself. These were all meant to be ways to efficiently store and transmit the data, as well as hold onto data in the case of a power outage. I specifically was figuring out how to properly code the system to both store data and send it out periodically. But the professors brought us back to reality, reminding us that this EEPROM function could wear out the board overtime, and could only store a small amount of data in the case of power loss. And with the exact status of 2G signal in Marwa still unknown, it would be inefficient to spend extra time and money on that system at this moment. We ended up just keeping the SD card, in order to allow for long-term storage of data that can be accessed when necessary, and I focused on making sure that worked properly. And when it came to power, we initially were set on batteries or power lines, depending on if the latter was fully constructed in the village. But the professors brought to light their interactions with the Marwa people, and how they took pride in solar-powered systems and felt more comfortable maintaining them. So, we switched our focus to adding solar panels and finding the necessary power draw to operate the system. Both were expanded functions and properties of the flow sensor that were not initially detailed to us, considering long-term integration in a much larger system. As we knew that eventually Marwa hoped to build more RWH tanks as well as ones siphoning water from the nearby Pangani River and were in the process of constructing power lines, we wanted to create a more modular prototype. Something that could be integrated to their new power system, even with solar, and could be adapted to consistently transmit accurate data from distinct tanks. And as cellular coverage expands, could encourage direct communication between Marwa and OSU, improving relations further. Through my research I learned how to make these systems work, so I would be able to adapt the system further when the professors felt ready to expand the project further. And these ideas were guided by the knowledge and experience of the professors. While we were stuck in the though-process of our typical schooling, the teachers helped reformat our thinking to real-world, humanitarian contexts.

Point-of-use Arduino board, with flow sensor, real time clock, and LCD display attached.

Throughout the semesters, a speaker representing AFS Intercultural Programs came in to discuss the different lessons of the Global Competence Certificate that we worked on. Combined with our project work, we took an online course focused on helping people think and operate on a global context, encouraging personal growth and communication with those of other cultures. And for several of our weekly lectures, a speaker would come in to discuss the topics we covered in the online modules. The online course itself was very engaging, including videos, real-life situations, and discussion posts to help you think more the subject and put your own thoughts and experiences regarding the subject into words. One could even see the posts of other users, so the thoughts of those from all corners of the world and walks of life could be easily read in every module. And then the in-class talks were even more engaging, as the speaker hit on many more examples from the real world and her own life, while asking us to share what we think to the entire class or to our groups. As our class included a variety of students from different majors and backgrounds, these classes reinforced the videos and articles we had read, facilitating our advancement into global citizens. I even took these lessons outside of the scope of the classroom, using them to help interact with the Global Engagement events at OSU that I participate in, as they’re meant to be places for international and domestic students to interact. This entire Global Competence Certificate program, which I didn’t even know about prior to joining Global Capstone, made me feel like I was becoming a more globally minded individual, not just an engineer.

And working in the lab put a lot of those ideas into the actual engineering work. Research and coding went from very broad ideas with expensive equipment to focusing on the essentials and designing for function over form. Plus, since we wanted to challenge ourselves and see what other functions were possible with our prototype, we spent a lot of time researching and testing all options for the ideas we came up with. We tried to work with the mindset “What do they need, and what can they make it with?”

A great example of this was when it came to implementing a tank level sensor, as it’s almost impossible to see inside the tank at any given time. The initial concepts we threw around were pretty high tech, such as using ultrasonic wave emitters to bounce off the water’s surface or using load cells at the bottom of the tank to measure the water’s weight, which were my own suggestions. I delved into a lot of different options, but wasn’t sure which would be the best to focus on. Thanks to the help of the professors, we realized that these would just complicate the design, and since this would be in everyday use by the people of Marwa, ease of use would be paramount. So, we focused on a design that is simple to understand, affordable, and only requires materials that a simple hardware store would have. This taught all of us more practical knowledge about water systems, learning how to utilize materials like PVC and plumber’s tape to create our water level sensor. Our final design is shown in the full prototype picture, with the bobber at one end raising with the water and moving a weight attached to it by a string on the other end. This idea originated in thinking of what would encourage the Marwa people to utilize these devices in the long term, even outside what we can accomplish within this academic year. While work like this was well ahead of the pace typical of the Global Capstone, the team and I had developed a passion for this project and wanted to see how much we were capable of achieving before graduation. I wanted to not only do the best I could on this project, but also learn as much as I can about other humanitarian engineering projects around the world, and how they solved the same problems that I faced. Moments like these were lessons in adapting our more theoretical engineering lessons to actual application, bridging that gap that usually exists in actual jobs between office and field, and helping us become better engineers.

The full Point-of-Use sensor prototype, including level sensor.

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This experience has changed me, both as an engineer and as a person, for the better. It has provided me with my first experience as a humanitarian engineer, and on an international scale at that. It has given me a taste of what service-focused projects and engineering projects as a whole are like, and how I should conduct myself during them. It taught me how to work as a team, especially with people of different fields and specializations. The program showed me different crises facing struggling communities around the world, and the many groups and organizations trying to fix them. It taught more about several aspects of engineering, including Arduino coding, wiring, water filtration, and 3D-printing. Plus, it showed me how to properly conduct research as well as more hands-on, practical building skills. It helped me see beyond the scope of a project, considering all that’s available to me to see how I can enhance it or set it up for success in the future. It taught me to look beyond deliverables and due dates, to what can really create a lasting impact. And most important of all, this experience has made me more comfortable thinking about my future in a global context. I can better see myself fitting into this worldwide effort to solve our humanitarian issues while helping technology grow and develop further in these marginalized groups. I feel ready to step into positions that allow me to work with foreign groups and work towards a common goal together. And I feel prepared to embrace challenging situations that force me to expand my thinking and understanding of not only engineering, but people as well.

For my STEP project I decided to intern at the Ohio House of Representatives. Within this internship, I collaborated with the legislative aide in active participation and duties within the office and Statehouse. I also was involved in constituent outreach, constituent correspondence and response, researching, filing, drafting letters and bills, data entry, etc.

My assumptions changed from being at the Ohio House of Representatives, because I was able to understand and learn more about constituent work that I haven’t thought of before. For instance, I didn’t know that citizens could call their state representative to help them with personal issues. I always just thought that it’d be hard to reach them or that people have to voice their concerns more locally, but that isn’t true. I was able to help constituents with pandemic unemployment, regular unemployment, vaccine pop up shops, housing, child placement, and so much more. Our state representatives are here to help us, but we have to make sure that we speak about our issues.

Another thing that changed was my assumption on the roles within my internship. As an intern, I didn’t think that I’d be so involved in the legislative process as I was. I helped to draft the ICPC or Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children bill which really motivated me to want to do more in the House of Representatives. I knew that I was capable of possibly pursuing any career in that field. They all support and lead one another for the progression of their citizens which I admire.

The relationships I’ve formed also lead to my change and transformation. They affected me by making me more open to different careers and exploring the best options that come by. I’ve acquired so much information since this June. The staff’s constructive criticism and leadership skills have embedded in me higher expectations and standards for myself. I tend to take time with my projects, instead of rushing it, and in doing so I produce quality work or projects that’s met at the deadline or before. I’ve become very reliable and dependable with any task and when given curveballs or unexpected jobs and always willing to take on new projects and advance my opportunities. Because of my legislative aides, I have developed into a finer person, student, and citizen overall.

The key aspects of my experience completing my internship were definitely the people there, the various roles they played, and the networking opportunities. The relationships that I have formed are ones that I want to continue with, because they’re all so knowledgeable and very kind. Not only were their legislative aides and state representatives, but there were lawyers and prospective teachers as well. I feel like working there is a great foundation to have, especially if you plan to change careers but like to assist others. I’ve also built connections with people outside of the people I know or the floor I’m on. There are always networking events to attend, which is greatly appreciated. I get the chance to mingle with people in positions I’d like to be one day.

This transformation is significant for my life and has related to the development of my personal professional goals, since it has improved many skills of mine and made me a better candidate not just for law school but for future endeavors as well. I knew I’d be able to expand my network with like minded individuals who have similar goals. Those goals are wanting to provide for citizens in any way they can. Being an intern in the House of Representatives has given me so much insight on legislative processes and duties. I’m able to apply what I’ve learned into my daily life. It was very interesting to see and interact with people who get a decision in bills and laws. They fight for their constituents and not against them, hearing them out and letting them voice their concerns. Having taken calls myself from constituents, I’ve developed a greater concern for their needs and will perform my role to make sure that they get their requests across. This internship deepened my interest in law and supporting the rights of the citizens.

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.

Here is a picture of the prototype I made during my project.

This is me and the roommates I lived with hanging out on the weekend!

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. 

This summer I participated in Wells Fargo’s Technology internship program. During this program I was able to refine my skills as an aspiring software engineer. In specific, I was allowed to work on a team of software engineers to develop a product throughout the 10 week program. This meant that I was able to learn and apply new programming languages such as React, Typescript, and CSS. Along with this, I was able to network with peers and leaders in the industry through several leadership development projects and “lunch and learn” seminars. The experiences and material I learned from the program were priceless and I am very grateful to have had the chance to participate in this internship.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? 

Prior to participating in the internship program, I doubted my abilities as a programmer and even second guessed my career path. I was afraid that I would not be a valuable asset to a technology team and that I still had a lot to learn before entering the software engineering realm. As I completed my STEP signature project, I soon realized that my preconceived notion was far from the truth. I was able to build and deploy numerous projects with the team and was even trusted to complete various issues independently. 

Going forward, I have much more confidence in myself and my abilities. Instead of being hesitant to become involved in complex projects, I have begun to dive head first because I realize that when I face material that I am uncomfortable with I am able to grow and flourish into a better programmer, colleague, and person in general. With a full-time return offer from Wells Fargo at the end of this internship, I am extremely eager to return to the workforce and make a positive contribution to the work being done and the team I am working with.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? 

Being able to work hands-on with code that affected millions of consumers and customers allowed me to realize the significance of my work and promoted personal change within me. I acknowledged that I should not be anxious to apply the skills I learned from academia to my professional work since I was truly competent in the material. I was able to complete my tasks promptly and diligently with few or no bugs in my code. This was one factor that spurred me to become more confident in my abilities.

Also, working on a team with other engineers and being able to peer program with them was very valuable. By speaking through my thought process and concerns of the code with them, I began to realize that I was able to seamlessly fit into the team and make a positive contribution to the work being done. Whether I go on to work at Wells Fargo or another company after graduation, I am sure that my work and insight will be of value to the team and the work being completed.

Finally, the opportunity to network with other interns allowed me to gauge the abilities of others. By speaking with other fellow interns that were also aspiring software engineers, I was able to determine that I was on a similar level as them in terms of software engineering knowledge. Moreover, I was able to distinguish new technologies and methods of problem solving that I had not thought of prior. Upon completion of the internship program, I have used suggestions from fellow peers and industry leaders to further hone in on my soft skills and hard skills. 

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

The transformation is valuable for my life because it showed me that it is normal to be nervous about change but it is not okay to fear change. It is through change and challenges that I was able to become a better programmer, colleague, and person. I was able to develop accountability, responsibility, confidence, and leadership through completing this internship program. Without change and challenge it is likely that I would plateau in terms of developing this personal attributes. Therefore, I realize that, as I progress in my professional career, I will be able to develop my soft and hard skills further.  

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

My STEP Signature Project was an internship with POWER Engineers. Though my position was based in Ann Arbor, MI, I worked remotely as a civil/structural engineer intern on the overhead transmission line team.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

A few transformations took place. First off, my view of engineering was transformed from my closed-minded idea of all hard calculations and detailing to the world of consulting and project engineering through the lens of a new industry. Sure, I knew that I could design buildings, bridges, and even roller coasters with a Civil Engineering degree but never did I consider the design and analysis of power line structures. It might just look like poles in the ground, but there are a lot of design considerations that go into that final product.

Additionally, I learned a lot about my work habits and abilities. I knew my strong work ethic has allowed me to excel in coursework as well as previous experiences; however, I never had a great idea of my learning and communication capabilities until I was able to fully take initiative and received feedback from my mentor throughout the term.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

At least 50% of my internship was spent modeling individual structures in PLS-Pole and importing them into the overall transmission line model in PLS-CADD. Compared to my last co-op, where at least 90% of my time was spent designing in AutoCAD, I was very surprised at all the modeling I was doing. This modeling was very standardized according to the client’s preferences and National Electrical Safety Code, so there was not much room for creativity or design – much of the structure modeling was a learning exercise. Because it was standardized, there were not as many calculations or sizing of components as I expected there to be in a structural design position. This did come into play in the analysis and optimization stage of the process but much less than I would have thought. This is what made the internship more project engineering than heavy structural design. I ended up enjoying it overall, and I’m very glad I did it. This allowed me to transform my understanding of what I enjoy and what my career can be with a Civil Engineering degree.

Another aspect of the experience that contributed to the new understanding of my work habits and abilities was the remote nature of the work. I was certainly not left alone, as my mentor was readily available for questions and guidance as needed and checked in with me regularly. However, remote work requires a great deal of self-discipline and independence to be productive and take initiative to get help. My mentor was also the leader of my team and a mentor to other young engineers, so he frequently was in meetings and had short bits of time available to get his own work done. I recognized this early on and always tried my best to compile my questions so as not to call him as frequently and monitor his calendar to find more open times to ask the questions. That was not always possible when a clarification or question impeded my own progress, but Brad noted how much he appreciated me trying things on my own and compiling questions rather than calling him all the time.

Similarly, I had the opportunity to take ownership and complete the majority of a project on my own. In my past co-op, I was frequently completing short tasks on a multitude of projects, but I didn’t have a great chance to really take control. In this case, I consistently worked on the same project throughout the summer and took it through nearly 90% of its lifecycle. This allowed for a great opportunity to receive feedback. All was positive throughout, but I still experienced a bit of imposter syndrome throughout, thinking I was working/learning too slowly or not capable of completing everything as desired. However, at the end of the internship my mentor provided very reassuring feedback that I was a quick learner and my quality of work was higher than many interns. This gave me much more confidence as I approach a full-time career that I actually did play a significant role in the team and I am capable of completing my own projects (with guidance).

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

My transformation of my career outlook and understanding of my own abilities has brought me a healthy dose of clarity and confidence for my future. For one, I experienced a broader range of directions I can steer my career after graduation. I learned that I enjoy project engineering, but I would still like to pursue more heavy structural design work to start, especially within the amusement/entertainment industry; that doesn’t mean I cannot return to project engineering work or POWER in the future. Additionally, because I have not had as much of a heavy structural engineering design type role yet, I was doubting whether I could succeed. But this internship has provided the confidence to not undermine my experience, knowledge, and abilities and apply/interview for the positions I truly want. I feel much more equipped to fully pursue my dream of roller coaster design or working more broadly on entertainment structures. I’ve almost crested that lift hill and built up my experience and confidence; now it’s time to put my hands up and go down that first drop into my dream career.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as a Human Resources Intern for KeyBank working with their HR Operations and Benefits teams. In my work with the Benefits team, I led the analysis of the Thrive Benefits Survey to learn employees’ understanding and preferences of Key’s benefits programs in order to determine changes to make to Key’s benefits offerings to best align with employee preferences. I also aided the HR Operations team in testing and reviewing the upgrade to their HR Online platform as well as determined key performance indicators to be used to measure the success of the platform’s upgrade.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

At the beginning of my internship, I wrote out all of the goals that I was hoping to accomplish by the end of the summer. One of these goals was to transform my knowledge and understanding of Human Resources so that I could determine which area of HR I can best apply my strengths and interests. Throughout the summer, I strove to seek out experiences and opportunities that would help me develop my HR skills and determine which area I would like to work in one day. Through these opportunities and my work, I was able to solidify my interest in the Human Resources Business Partner space as well as in Training and Development. As a result of this STEP Signature Project, I was able to accept an HR Assistant position with a company where I will be able to work both as an HR Business Partner while also training and developing employees.

This project also transformed my understanding of the importance of HR within a company and all the ways that an HR team can serve as a resource for managers and employees. A good HR partner is able to proactively connect with managers and employees in order to determine their needs and then act as their strategic partner. By working with my managers during my internship, I was able to learn best practices for how to serve as a strategic partner and show your worth as an HR department. One of the important ways this is accomplished is through using data and stats to demonstrate your benefit to the organization. Overall, this internship transformed my view of HR as a whole and showed me how to be a successful HR partner.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

Since I was entering my internship with limited experience with HR and a strong desire to learn all of the different areas in a short period of time, I took advantage of every possible opportunity I could to explore. One of the ways I did this was through scheduling networking meetings with leaders of all the different areas of HR including HRBP, Training and Development, Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, etc. I was able to ask these leaders about their background, experiences, current work, and advice. Through these calls, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of HR in a short amount of time. These leaders were able to provide valuable insight into their areas of expertise that I would not have otherwise been able to learn.

During this summer, I also was able to deepen my understanding of the importance of having a strategic, efficient Human Resources department. One of the ways I was able to see this was through my work with the Benefits team. During the summer, I analyzed the results of a survey sent to employees to gather information about their understanding and preferences of our benefits programs. The survey also showed how employee retention rates changed with different benefits offerings. Employee retention rates were directly influenced by the different benefits options. Employees were also 4x more satisfied with benefits programs that they had a high understanding of. My work with this survey showed me how employee retention rates and satisfaction with an organization were directly influenced by the benefits team’s ability to offer benefits that met employee needs and to communicate these benefits well.

I also was able to attend an in-person strategy day with the benefits team where they planned their goals for the next four quarters. All of the benefits team members attended and gave input about what projects, changes, and goals we should prioritize for the future. Attending this meeting showed me how important collaboration is and the benefit of having discussions about strategy. This one meeting was a scaled-down representation of how the entire HR department can communicate and collaborate to ensure they are meeting employee needs. This experience and all of the other meetings I attended throughout my internship helped me to see the value that an HR team can bring to a company.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

This experience was very pivotal for my professional growth and future as I will begin working as an HR Assistant when I graduate in December. I will be able to apply all of the knowledge and skills I learned during my internship in my future career to be the best HR employee I can. I now am entering my career with insight into HR that I would have not otherwise gained had it not been for this opportunity. I also am able to apply all of the skills and information I learned over the summer to my HR classes this semester. This has helped to shift my mindset and give me a unique perspective as I learn my course material. This internship has given me valuable expertise and a newfound understanding of HR that I am excited to apply to my full-time career moving forward.

All of the KeyBank interns were invited to attend an in-person event together in Cleveland.

1. My STEP project consisted of Tax work for the public accounting firm, Rea and Associates, in Dublin, OH. In my position I prepared business and individual tax returns, performed tax research, and participated in various tax planning initiatives.
2. This experience changed my world view in multiple ways. From a technical perspective, I gained a further understanding of how taxation operates in the United States. This allows me to formulate more informed opinions on tax policy and its effects. Additionally, I did a lot of work with individual taxation. This has allowed me to incorporate tax considerations into my personal financial decisions. However, I believe I was mostly transformed by the relationships I made during this project. I worked closely with peers and mentors giving me a new understanding on how to collaborate. I learned to not be afraid to ask questions and allow my lack of understanding to become an opportunity to learn.
3. Throughout this project I worked with people far more knowledgeable on the field than I. This was intimidating at first, but I grew to thoroughly enjoy it. Constantly, I was working with software and tasks that I was completely unfamiliar with. Early on, I learned how thrilling this can be when you have a supportive network to rely on.

I befriended junior accountants who were happy to collaborate with me. This created a multilateral exchange of information because they were primarily recent graduates who also had limited experience. This relationship was very rewarding because we were a team, we relied on each other and strived for the successes of each other.

A different type of relationship I developed at my time at Rea was that which I held with my superiors. These were gratifying in their own way. Although these were typically more unilateral, in which I was always the one learning something new from our interaction, I learned to cherish it because it was always such an effective way to learn. These people were a wealth of knowledge and I learned how to actively listen and ensure I gained us much new information from our exchanges as possible.

These relationships were significantly transformative because they altered my perspective on “professional relationships”. I now know that profound connections can be forged whenever you are working with people and how valuable it is to collaborate and learn from those with more experience.

4. This transformation is valuable to my life because it showed me that your relationships with people are enriching no matter where you are. This has lowered some of my apprehensions toward working with people in the professional environment as well as prompted me to focus on people over all other aspects in these situations.
5. 

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

This summer I had the opportunity to intern with Ohio State Sports Camps and Clinics in Columbus. I was considered as an athletic training student where my tasks mainly consisted of first-aid, emergency responder, evaluating injuries, health administration, injury prevention, and communicating between athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators. I had the opportunity to work alongside certified athletic trainers, physicians, and other medical professionals. From my interactions, I was able to develop relationships that will help me progress as I continue my undergrad and into graduate school.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

In the past, my end goal was to go to graduate school to become a physical therapist in sports medicine, and my major of athletic training was just a stepping stone for me to reach my ultimate goal. However, after shadowing and reaching out to several physical therapists around the area, I discovered the career path I thought I wanted to be doing did not interest me anymore.

This past year in my clinical rotation for school, I started considering a career in my major, but I was still at a loss of what I wanted to do in my future career as an athletic trainer. I did not know what type of setting I wanted to work in such as college, high school, hospital, clinic, etc. During my internship, it helped me discover my passion for athletic training. I was able to figure out what I wanted to do in the future by talking to certified athletic trainers and other medical professionals in sports medicine. Also, I had several opportunities to learn about the various possibilities that are available in the profession of athletic training. The biggest thing I learned is the importance of relationships with patients, co-workers, other medical professions, and parents in this profession.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

I had the opportunity to interact and spend a lot of time with certified athletic trainers, coaches, directors of multiple sports from OSU, director of camps, patients, and parents. Some of the certified athletic trainers I worked with over the summer, have shown me different career paths that are available after graduation such as working as an injury prevention specialist at Amazon or working in a physical therapy clinic.

My most influential interaction was working with an athlete from the camp and being able to diffuse an emergency. By utilizing my skills as an athletic trainer, I was able to calm the patient down and give the athlete the treatment they needed. The patient came to another camp again and when I saw them, both the parents and the athlete thanked me and told me what an impact I had on them. From this experience, I learned the value and importance of my job. The relationships I establish can affect those around me tremendously and can make an impact on their lives.

I also got to step out of my comfort zone by being a student leader for multiple athletic camps. During these camps, I had to communicate with camps directors and coaches to help set up the camp according to the needs of the camp. I got the chance to lead other student interns and help them learn new skills as well as how to handle various situations that arise in the athletic field.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

The transformation I experienced this summer has helped solidify my career path in the future of athletic training. I rediscovered my passion for helping people and pushing them to better themselves. I also have a better understanding of the qualities and skills needed to be a great professional athletic trainer to reach these goals such as critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, etc. Furthermore, I have created relationships and bonds that will last a lifetime and will help further my career in the future. This summer has truly helped me realize my passion and I felt as if I found my purpose in life. I want to use my education to impact my patient’s lives not just by helping them recover from an injury but by being a person they can rely on and help push them to their personal and physical goals.

After a long day of camps.

At softball camp, having fun on the slip and slide they had during their camp.

Campers at Men’s Lacrosse Camp drinking Gatorade products.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

My STEP Signature Project was interning with Humana in software engineering for 12 weeks during the summer of 2021. Throughout the summer, I developed a full-stack web application to visualize user journeys through internal applications. As an advanced intern, I was able to experience what it would be like to be a full-time associate.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

Through this experience, my view of myself and the computer science industry changed. I found that I am more capable as a software engineer than I previously thought but continued learning will be important for my career. I realized I needed to work on my presentation skills, so I practiced communicating with stakeholders and my fellow interns. I also learned what it means to take responsibility for an entire application and how important it is to ask for help when I get stuck in order to stay on schedule. In my work, I was able to connect parts of my project with learnings from my OSU courses, giving me a new perspective of time complexity and graph theory in a real-world setting. Additionally, I was able to meet successful women in technology and hear about their experience in the industry which was very helpful.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

My project was developed with the agile method, so I was able to present to stakeholders and my team every other week. Having their feedback and support was very helpful in developing my project and my skills working with best practices. At the end of the internship, I was able to give two large presentations (one recorded and one live) to a larger set of associates in the organization to give an overview of my work. This was a great experience to share my work with an audience with less background and gave me the opportunity to answer questions as well. Beyond my project, I grew as a software engineer by attending team and department meetings, showing the experience of a full-time associate and current problems being worked on. 

During the internship, Humana offered to cover the exam fee for the Azure Fundamentals certification (AZ-900) and provided access to Linux Academy for studying. I was able to improve myself as a software engineer by studying for and passing the AZ-900. Through receiving this certification, I was able to learn more about cloud resources and best practices. The relative newness of cloud services is a major example of how the software industry is always changing. Learning how companies adopt this new technology will assist me as new changes and technologies inevitably arise.

Through my organization and the internship mentoring program, I was able to meet many successful women who became role models for me. Women hold the minority in technology and computer science, so hearing the experiences of women in my field and at the director level was very helpful. My mentor was able to invite me to her Women In Technology group meeting where I heard from more successful women and heard how they aim to assist women in the company. It was inspiring to see these women accomplish things I also hope to accomplish one day.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

My internship experience helped solidify that this is the correct career path for me and having industry experience will assist me in receiving full-time job offers. The skills and technologies I learned in my internship will help me confidently begin a full-time job and can be applied throughout my career. I now look forward to beginning this chapter of my life after graduation. In the meantime, I am also able to apply some newly learned techniques, such as project management and source control, to course projects in my final semester of OSU.