Over the past few months, I have been a Software Engineering Intern at 84.51° in Cincinnati, Ohio. For ten weeks, I worked on a team comprised of other interns as well as full time software developers. My team primarily worked on a commerce application for the company, in which I personally was required to communicate with product owners, develop solutions, and write/test code.

Throughout the course of my internship, my entire perspective on the software industry, and by extension my planned future career path, changed significantly. My job requirements were essentially those of a full-time junior developer, which allowed me to get an accurate sense of what a starting level position in my field would be like. Before this internship, I could only guess what kinds of actual work I would be doing and what the work-life balance would entail, however, I now have a strong grasp on what work and life are like as a software engineer. Furthermore, the work I did during my internship has taught me a lot about the field and has helped me to improve as a programmer. Overall, this experience has been invaluable to me for my career.

Another aspect of my STEP Signature Project that forced me to change was my living situation. As I’m from Cleveland and had never been to Cincinnati before, this move was quite jarring, more so than even the transition from high school to college. I knew absolutely no one in Cincinnati and I also did not have a car, so other than the rides I received to and from work, I was fairly stranded. This living situation forced me to leave my comfort zone and meet new people as well as interact with my three random roommates. Also, I lived in an apartment for the first time of my life, which was my first experience being on my own not in a dorm, which forced me to take on new responsibilities, such as cooking frequently, that I had not had to deal with before.

From a career standpoint, there were a lot of experiences over this summer that have helped me immensely. First and foremost, I got to experience the day-in-day-out life of a software developer and got to work on a full-blown project, all of which not only strengthened my skills but also changed my perspective on the industry. Furthermore, I had both a manager and a mentor at my internship, both of which had weekly meetings with me in which they assessed my performance and gave me advice on my career prospects. This allowed me to get and act on feedback as well as helped me to get a sense of what I want to do in my career, both of which were extremely valuable.

In general, I do feel as though I have developed a lot personally throughout the course of this experience, largely due to my isolated living situation. Knowing no one in Cincinnati, I had to frequently leave my comfort zone to make friends and interact with my roommates. I also had to learn some new skills, most notably how to cook, which I think has made me a more self-reliant person. Furthermore, as I made a lot of new friends, many of whom were very different than the people I normally spend the most amount of time with, I got to experience a lot of new things. From new restaurants and food, to games and traditions, I do feel as though I came out of this experience more cultured than I was when I went into it.

Overall, this experience has been invaluable to me for my career. I now understand what a job in the software industry entails, and as I really enjoyed my time at 84.51°, I am very excited to join the industry. Furthermore, from a career perspective, this internship has not only taught me a lot and helped me grow my skills, but it has also given me great work experience that could be very useful in getting jobs in the future. Finally, this experience has also helped me develop personally, as I have learned a lot and experienced a lot of new things, as well as met and bonded with a lot of new people.

This past summer I had the opportunity to be an Operations Intern for the Mast Global Logistics Division of L Brands in Columbus, Ohio. This experience was my first opportunity to fully understand all the responsibilities that come with being in the operations and logistics field in a true company setting and proved to be invaluable. I was able to put both my technical and soft skills to the test, and expand upon and develop more useful business skills in the process as well. Over the course of the summer I partook in projects like the revision and development of Standardized Operating Procedures that are now being implemented across two Distribution Centers and overseeing the expansion of operations to new Distribution Centers and the implementation of new technologies in the floor of the DC.

Looking  back on this experience, I believe it has affected my view of my possible future career path and has helped further establish necessary skills for business that I will rely on and continue to develop in the future. Before my time at L Brands, I simply had no idea what I wanted to do career-wise. I had a basic understanding of what operations was based off classroom knowledge and hearing experiences from friends but that hardly prepared me for what I actually experienced on the job. I now realize that within the field of logistics and operations, there are so many different opportunities to take advantage of and I know certain ones that I want to stay away from. What I now know about logistics and operations is that certain divisions within it can be very lonely at times especially when you are working deep within a distribution center. Additionally, this experience made me realize how technical operations and logistics can be. In terms of new skills, this experience helped me to expand upon my communication skills as it is necessary to be a good communicator in business. Additionally, my self-initiative was put to the test as a go-getter attitude is necessary to get ahead.

I realize now that retail may not be the best fit for me because I did not feel connected to the company’s vision or the products they were distributing. This is why I am now pursuing my next internship with a company that deals with consumer products that ultimately lead to to helping people. This coming summer I hope to be working with Unilever as they have a huge focus on company culture and their mission and products would indirectly allow me to benefit the lives of others.

On the topic of feeling rewarded though helping others, I am now considering finding a way to integrate logistics and operations with consulting as it involves lots of critical thinking while still pulling from the specialization of business which I reside in. While I enjoyed the work-related challenges that came this summer, I would enjoy a career that continues to challenge me every day while still allowing me to use my knowledge of logistics and operations to help other businesses.

With working in a DC being a lonely as it is, this has led me to consider pursuing a career in other areas of operations such as team or project management or a new specialization entirely. One of the things I craved most about working in operations was the communication and team aspect of the job. From what I was doing this past summer, I saw very little of that and going forward, would like to pursue a career with a specific focus on such communication and teamwork.

Change and transformation in one’s life is so important because without it, you are not learning! I am a firm believer in the thought that if you are comfortable, you are not growing. While there were things that I took away from this experience that I did not necessarily love, I still find it extremely important that I underwent this process because I left with a better understanding of what operations and logistics really are and how I want to leverage them in a different career path in the near possible future. In terms of personal goals, I find that my professional goals can seep in as work is such a large part of your life and my happiness levels can often be affected by work. With this in mind, I now have a better sense of specializations I’m no longer interested in thus narrowing my options I am picking between in the future.

I spent eight weeks this past summer working as an Archaeology Intern with the Cincinnati Museum Center. Half of my internship was spent in the museum’s Archaeology Laboratory analyzing artifacts, while the other half was working on spent on a real archaeological excavation outside of Cincinnati.

The most important transformations that occurred during this project centered around my own abilities and my future. My time both in the lab and out in the field required me to test and expand my knowledge base and technical skills. Over these eight weeks, I was able to learn so much about archaeology, my own capabilities, and what I want my future to look like. My fellow interns and my supervisors shaped my experience in the most positive way possible and made me into a more confident, knowledgeable, and driven archaeologist. I learned so much more about myself and my chosen field more than I thought possible.

Before this internship, most of what I knew about archaeology was in theory, not in practice. For four weeks in July, I helped carry out an archaeological excavation from start to finish. I learned all about the logistics, planning, and skill that goes into an excavation and spent many hours performing archaeological techniques that I had only learned about at school. My knowledge of Ohio history was constantly challenged and expanded as we pulled thousands of artifacts from the ground. Through our public outreach programs, I was given the opportunity to then share this newfound knowledge to children who visited the site. The amount of archaeological knowledge I gained in the span of eight weeks was far more than I could have ever imagined and truly transformed me into a much more capable archaeologist.

There was a certain amount of apprehension and self-doubt as I came into this internship; what if I wasn’t good enough? What if archaeology isn’t for me? Thankfully, my time working with my fellow interns and the people of the Cincinnati Museum Center put these fears to rest. My supervisors throughout the internship were incredibly supportive and patient as I tackled tasks that were completely unfamiliar to me. By the end of my internship, my supervisors were impressed by my capabilities; knowing this, I was imbued with the confidence that I had been missing. My change from apprehensive to confident was one of the most important outcomes of this internship.

Additionally, my supervisors were huge resources not only because of their archaeological and historical knowledge, but also their life experiences. All of them had come from different backgrounds but had ended up at the same place; this helped me realize that there is not just one accepted path to reach my goals, but many. They shared their advice with me, answered my questions, and overall gave me a clearer image of what my future in archaeology could look like. Before, my professional future seemed far off and vague. Now, it feels very real and very manageable. With my point of view transformed like this, I can honestly say I’m excited for the future.

I went into this internship with previous archaeology experience in the form of coursework and hands-on lab experience at OSU. I was focused on a career in archaeology and knew that my next step after graduation would consist of graduate school. After this internship, this still stands; I still want a career in archaeology and am turning my sights toward grad school. However, with my broadened archaeological knowledge and experience, as well as my greater sense of self, I now have a much clearer image of what I want my professional and personal future to look like. I learned what I like and don’t like about archaeology, which has helped me immensely as I choose my future specializations. The increase in my confidence during this internship also has allowed me to trust my abilities to carry out my goals in grad school. My time in Cincinnati gave me a whole new perspective on archaeology, which changed how I plan to proceed in this field in the future.

For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in the Washington Academic Internship Program from May-August with my cohort of 29 peers. For this program, I worked full-time as an intern on Capitol Hill and I was also enrolled as a full-time student taking 12-credit hours (Three Public Affairs Courses). Also, I participated in professional development workshops throughout the summer and went on study tours of the city of DC.

Because of my STEP Signature Project, I learned a lot about myself. As mentioned before, I lived in Washington, DC for three months, and this was the first time I have ever lived away from home. My view of the world was transformed immensely because of this. The city and culture of DC was very fast-paced, but I enjoyed the city and its politics. I learned that I can live on my own away from my family and friends, I learned that I can successfully be a full-time student and intern, and I learned how to budget immensely as DC is an expensive city. Ultimately, I became an all-around better person and professional and by the time I left DC, I felt like a true DC native.

The most influential relationships that affected my personal growth this summer were my roommates. We were in very close proximity as all three of us shared a one-bedroom apartment for three-months. They became my close support system, and we were all in the same program, so we made sure to look out for one another and encourage each other when needed. Because of their encouragement, my confidence in myself and my abilities while in DC were heightened.

Another influential relationship that affected my personal growth this summer was with my assigned WAIP mentor, Katelyn. She was truly amazing and the most influential person I feel that I have met in my life so far. She took the initiative to connect me with a plethora of lawyers in the city, and she really dedicated time to ensure that we built a great friendship. Because of our relationship, I left DC with a vast network of lawyers in DC, and I left with a gained confidence that I will be a very distinguished Black women lawyer one day. My career goals were solidified.

Finally, my experience as an intern for Senator Sherrod Brown on Capitol Hill led to tremendous professional development and growth. The work environment here was very fast-paced, intense and long-hours, but I believe that this was great for me especially considering that I would like to be a lawyer one day. Also, I sharpened my legislative writing and researching skills which is a great skill that I will need for the rest of my life.

Ultimately, the experience that I had over the summer was extremely valuable to me because it was very transformative for me. Before going out to DC this summer, I was extremely nervous about my future. As a student who is graduating a year early, I felt that I was running out of time to form solid after under-grad job plans. However, because of this program and the experiences that I had and the people that I met, I feel very confident in my ability to apply for law school after undergrad and to pursue my career as a lawyer whether that be in DC or another state.

My STEP signature project for the summer of 2019 was an internship in Fayetteville, Arkansas for Procter and Gamble. I was on the Walmart Customer team, doing Analytics and Insights.

My understanding of myself changed in a way that I will never forget, and I will always credit it to my summer in Arkansas. I came to realize the most important thing that a person can stumble upon – the value that I bring to the table. This summer I gradually found myself growing in confidence, I felt like I could finally see what my worth was to the people around me and to myself. My outlook on how I impact the people around me shifted into a positive angle – I see people as the source of an opportunity to learn from them through their own intellect and the relationship that I have with them.

The relationships that I established during the summer fueled a mindset that now allows me to maintain the highest point I’ve been at in my life. It was the people around me that allowed me to see my full potential and guide me in the right direction of having an unstoppable mentality. These people were my co-workers, my bosses, my mentors, and my family. These were people that pointed me in the right direction and I now feel like I could do the same for them.

Another key aspect of my summer that can be credited to changing my outlook on my life was seeing component of my major (Data Analytics) be applied to the real world. I was able to finally see what Data Analytics looks like in an industry setting. It solidified my passion for what I am spending 4 years of my life studying. I felt like everything I had learned at school and everything I was about to learn in upcoming semesters was being applied, and it let me know that everything that I am doing, the investment that myself and my family are making for me to get an education is paying off and will continue to do so.

Another key aspect was being able to see that even in the corporate world, in the right company/organization, people still look out for each other as if they were family. My time at Procter & Gamble let me know that if I surround myself with good people, and I in turn am a good person to those around me, I will always be a part of a community that looks out for me and my best interests.  This is not something that I expected as I entered my first work experience in a company that can be considered part of “Corporate America”.

This change is significant for my life in so many ways that it isn’t quantifiable. I learned how to be good to those around me, and I learned how to be good to myself. I became the best version of myself and in turn I had better impacts on those around me. Even now, as I’m back on campus with my friends that I haven’t seen all summer, I think they can see the light in my eyes that maybe wasn’t there before. I have never felt closer to my friends and my family as I do now, and I think that’s something that will continue. I am constantly working towards becoming a better and better version of myself, but I can confidently say that at the moment I am the best that I can be.

For my STEP Signature Project, I worked as a student research assistant at Ohio State’s Center for Automotive Research. I spent the majority of my time in the machine shop, where I was able to work on projects that supported both the researchers and the student machine shop at CAR.

I came away from the internship with greater confidence in myself and what I am capable of. Initially, I was unsure if I would be able to take what I had learned in the classroom and then apply it in real world situations. Because of the internship, I gained the confidence to tackle projects when I initially would not know exactly what to do. I discovered that I could rely on myself and what I had learned previously to complete difficult projects.

One event that led to this change was when I was given an open-ended project. The project had an end goal that was desired, but what needed to happen was not planned out. There were many possible paths that could have been taken to reach the end-goal but it was up to me to decide what to do. I was responsible for picking the design that I felt would best perform the specified functions.

For that same project, I had to select and order all of the necessary materials for the job. This means that I had to consider the function and demands of each individual part when selecting the material for that part. I also had to consider the price of the material and select the option that would save the most money while still adequately performing its duty. This was something that I was unfamiliar with and did need the assistance and expertise of my boss.

These experiences taught me to how to make critical decisions while considering many possible options. It also required that I had the confidence and will to rely on myself to work through tough spots when I did not know exactly what to do. However, I also gained the valuable experience of knowing when to ask for help when I am in too deep over my head.

These experiences that led to the transformations in my life will continue to benefit me long after I have graduated from Ohio State. These changes will help me to succeed at a future internship by enabling me to do more satisfactory work. Performing well at a future internship could also lead to more doors opening when I eventually am looking for a full-time job. In overview, the internship that I was able to take because of STEP has had a large, positive impact on my life.

For my STEP Signature Project, I worked as a student research assistant at Ohio State’s Center for Automotive Research. I spent the majority of my time in the machine shop, where I was able to work on projects that supported both the researchers and the student machine shop at CAR.

 A part I was able to CNC during my internship

This summer I worked for the University of Toledo’s Athletic department.  I was their full-time marketing intern where I was able to work on everything from marketing plans to fan promotions.  I did a lot of work creating new promotions for students and thinking of themed games for upcoming basketball and football games along with organizing some kids club events.

During my time at Toledo this summer I also discovered a lot about myself. Before going into this internship I was not sure if this was the career path I wanted.  Due to the help of my bosses as well as being able to experience a lot of different things I figured out that I would be very happy working in sports. I discovered how different all athletic departments are from each other while also seeing what needs to go into them in order for them to function properly. In terms of myself I think I learned exactly what I’m looking for in terms of the future career.  I also saw a lot of things I’m not looking for in a workplace environment. Overall this internship will help me a ton and look great on a resume but even more importantly I think it helped me discover a career path that I wanted.  It allowed me to see what kind of worker I would like to be when I enter the job force.

In order for me to figure out all of these things about myself I would say that there were three important influencers for me. These are the events, the people, and the workplace environment.  At Toledo the events I took part of helped me see clearer what I wanted to do.  I worked at orientations, kids club events, meetings with community members, golf tournaments, an airshow, and mostly doing office work to prepare for the other events.  I learned how important communication skills are in this field.  I feel like I have good communication skills and was able to put them on full display for this internship.  These events also showed me the scope of the industry I hope to work in.  It allowed me to see its depth and the amount of different positions that are needed.

While at Toledo I also made a lot of great friends and connections with my coworkers.  The other interns were all so nice and fascinating and we all had very different backgrounds with a common goal.  My bosses were so helpful by showing me how they got from my position to theirs and how I could do what they did.  They were so helpful in helping me figure out what I wanted to do and how I could get there by sitting me down a few times and having great conversations.  They helped me realize that I might want to consider grad school which I had not thought of before.  They showed me great positions that could help me bridge the gap between where I am now and where I want to be.

The last great influence on me this past summer was the workplace environment.  I really liked the fact that I started at a medium sized athletic department.  Toledo is not small by any means, but they are small enough that I was able to meet people in every department while also seeing what they did.  All departments were pretty much on the same floor and I ended up interacting with coaches, athletic directors, players, and donors.  It helped me get a sense of how all the little pieces fit together to make all the sports successful.  In the end I was glad to be in marketing, but at the same time it was nice to see all the other jobs.

When I joined the STEP program I had just transferred out of a major because I knew I would never want to work in it and hated what I was doing.  With the help of my cohort, advisor, and friends I was able to pick a major while in STEP.  I was then able to find an internship relevant to my new major that really helped me broaden my knowledge and explore what I might want to do in the future.  I cannot say how much the STEP program has helped me to find out what I want to be and do, but also how much it has helped me to get there.  It was an amazing program and I would do it again in  a heartbeat even with all of the minutia that comes along with it

For my STEP project I did research for the Kudryashov Laboratory at Ohio State. I performed a variety of tasks throughout my experience such as; protein purification, designing primers, polymerase chain reactions, and running gels. I also assisted with projects of graduate students in the lab and learned about many instruments.

Honestly, I did not expect this research to be so challenging. Without taking a prior biochemistry course, I had very limited knowledge once I first entered the lab. I had to analyze and present journals about topics I’ve never even heard of, perform experiments with limited supervision, and use very complicated software. However, I did learn how to be independent – I taught myself biochemistry concepts and researched and modified experiments. Previously, I was always told what to do then accomplished my given task. During this research I had to make my own schedule and conduct them on my own.

Living alone also made me more self-sufficient. For the first time I had to buy my own groceries, make my own food, and make sure that I am not late to research. I also had to pay my rent and utilities on time and faced the consequences when I didn’t. Overall, this experience transformed me into an independent adult and eased my transition in living on my own this year.

The first challenge I faced was living on my own. I had trouble finding out which grocery stores had the best prices/quality of food. I also didn’t really know the roads or how crazy Columbus drivers are. In addition, I didn’t really know how to cook or meal prep and didn’t want to eat out every day. Eventually, I got very familiar with the roads and grocery stores. I found places to park that made walking to research faster and easier. I also practiced and perfected several recipes and learned how long food can stay in the fridge without getting spoiled. I also learned how to clean my bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.

I also gained a significant amount of knowledge about general laboratory procedures. I took hours of training courses for biomedical research and took many quizzes. These included; proper attire, pipetting techniques, how to use an autoclave correctly, etc. Tasks that I thought would be elementary such as washing dishes and cleaning lab workstations, turned out to be more complicated than I thought. I had to use bleach, soap, or ethanol on some dishes then rinse them 10 times with tap water and 10 times with reverse osmosis water, then lay them out to dry on the drying rack. Lab benches had to be cleaned thoroughly with 70% ethanol. These are all basic lab procedures that I learned during my experience.

Finally, I learned a lot about biochemistry. We had group lab meetings once a week that lasted 3-4 hours and consisted purely of journal presentations and discussions. This meant that I learned a lot from others’ presentations as well as from my own. Instead of just preparing what to say for my presentation, I had to prepare for any questions about procedures which the paper mentioned and analyze each figure. These were the most intense presentations I have ever given but it is an amazing skill to have in my future career/endeavors.

In regard to my personal life, this experience is extremely valuable. I learned how to cook, clean, and take care of myself without having to worry about a full class load. Now that I am still doing research and also taking classes/working it is nice to already know how to do these tasks. I also am familiar with the roads and traffic patterns around campus and downtown Columbus which is extremely helpful. In addition, I know how to teach myself material which is an important skill in classes with bad professors or jobs with bad bosses.

Academically, I have learned so much biochemistry that taking an elementary biochemistry course this semester is incredibly easy. I also know valuable wet lab skills that I will definitely utilize in future research experiences or internships/jobs. The specifics I’ve learned about actin and how to run binding and bundling assays is also very useful and will allow me to have a unique perspective in my future endeavors.

My final gels:

This summer, I worked as a Production Engineering Intern at Dow in Midland, Michigan. Here, I led several safety improvement projects throughout the plant. These projects dealt with flammable material handling, procedures on elevated surfaces, and slip and trip hazards. I also optimized plant processes by automating the risk-level determination in procedures and developing a warehouse organization strategy.

My STEP project helped me grow both personally and professionally, while teaching me lessons for myself and my career. Personally, I learned how to live by myself. This was my first time so far away from home. I prepared food for myself, making both breakfast and lunch in the mornings before work. This helped me realize that learning how to live independently prepares us for the real world. My internship took place in Midland, Michigan, a much smaller and more rural city than Columbus. The people had vastly different upbringings. This change in setting taught me how to adapt to new situations and make connections with people who have nothing in common with me.

Professionally, I learned what a career in manufacturing may look like. I took the initiative to talk to colleagues at multiple positions, such as the production leader, operations leader, run plant engineer, and process engineer. Each of these experiences gave me more information on what I may want to do as a career after college. The STEP project gave me new insight on the careers available as a chemical engineering major and gave me a taste of what the real world may look like.

My supervisor played a large role in my experience this summer. He exposed me to different portions of manufacturing, getting me in touch with R&D, process engineering, production coordination, and operations. I was able to learn what people do in different roles and how they all come together to form the supply chain. This specifically gave me insight on my options for the future. My supervisor served as the run plant engineer and involved me in improvement projects. Many of these projects exposed me to the safety concerns throughout the plant and the process for coming up with solutions. This has molded me into an engineer who is multifaceted, looking at finances, operations, and safety viewpoints.

I participated in multiple hands-on engineering projects, taking apart a pump to find a broken shaft and replacing it. This was a “transformational” experience for me since I had never done hands on projects. I learned when and how to use multiple tools, and for which use. This helped me gain crucial skills as an engineer because it increased my ability to learn how things work. I learned that this was the difference between a good engineer and a great engineer. While a good engineer can calculate multiple different metrics and give a viable solution, a great engineer is able to communicate with operators about how to fix a broken equipment. This improved my knowledge about mechanical and electrical equipment and enhanced my communication skills with people without an engineering background.

My STEP experience helped me grow personally by forcing me to go out of my comfort zone. After spending my entire life near larger cities like Cincinnati and Columbus, I was anxious and worried about what life would be like in Midland, Michigan, where the closest mid-size city of Flint is over an hour away. The people there had different backgrounds than I did; they were lovers of hunting and haters of large cities. After spending my time there, however, I have transformed. I have grown to enjoy smaller cities a little more, taking advantage of lower prices and easy access to beautiful scenery. I learned to connect to people with different backgrounds than me and have maintained those friendships so far.

This summer, I transformed into a better engineer due to my STEP project. I was exposed to different technologies and multiple portions of manufacturing, which helped me understand what my options were in industry. My supervisor did a fantastic job allowing me to explore different projects. I was able to work on projects I did not imagine doing at work while improving my communication skills with people who came from different backgrounds. My project allowed me to explore the small city of Midland, where thick forests and lovely shores are plentiful. With this experience, I learned what manufacturing entailed, how to characterize projects with multiple viewpoints, and how to communicate effectively with people who do not have an engineering background. These skills will certainly be useful in my future career as a manufacturing engineer.

For my transformational experience, I participated in a summer internship located in Downtown Chicago, Illinois with a company by the name of Ziegler. At Ziegler, I worked with their investment banking and corporate financing teams within the healthcare, senior living, and education sectors. I gained a vast amount of knowledge in the areas of strategic advisory services, equity, fixed income sales, trading, research, and much more.

There are so many things I learned when completing my internship with Ziegler this summer not only about the world of investment banking but about myself as well. When it comes to investment banking, I always thought of the big banks on Wall Street. I obviously knew other banks that weren’t big, brand names existed, but I didn’t really know what they consisted of. I thought that they must not do work that is very important or else more people would know what they are. After this experience, I learned that my view could not have been more wrong.

I learned that those niche banks were just as important as the big ones on Wall Street. I saw the impact I made firsthand and it really opened my eyes to just how big and complex the business world really is. My entire life I have always been interested in healthcare management. Being able to be on the banking side of healthcare helped me to understand the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes just to be able to operate hospitals, retirement communities, and other healthcare facilities.

The human interactions and relationships that I formed during my time in Chicago were probably the most important things to me. By rotating throughout the different branches within Ziegler, I was able to gain so much insight on the work that went into the different fields. Though I mainly worked with the senior living group, it was interesting to see the investment banking work that went into not-for-profit educational facilities, hospitals, general municipal, and structured finance. Working with people from all different backgrounds coming from all over the world really enhanced my experience.

My favorite parts about the entire internship were the site visits to multiple retirement communities in the suburbs of Chicago. Getting to interact with the residents and seeing how happy they were to be living in such a beautiful community made me feel good about the work that I was doing. To know that the facility they were living in would not have been possible without my company, made me feel as if even my small part as a summer intern truly made an impact.

The one thing that resonated with me the most throughout my time with Ziegler was my time with the senior living team. I am truly lucky to have been able to work with such experienced professionals in the field with so many years of experience. My mentors throughout this process were extremely helpful, knowledgeable, patient, and kind. They helped me understand the insides and outsides of the business and made me feel confident in my abilities.

I have always had a passion for not only healthcare, but particularly geriatrics and the aging population. Knowing that I was doing work that I was passionate about helped to ignite my motivation for being at work every day and it made me realize that I want to continue throughout this field in my years to come. Although I am not sure if I want to continue working in the investment banking industry, I know that I want to continue working the business-side of the healthcare field. Thanks to Ziegler, I made amazing connections that I plan on making use of in my near future. I even made connections all the way from Chicago to Columbus. It was amazing to see the outreach a small, niche investment bank can have all throughout the country and I really hope to be a part of it someday.

iCloud Photos from Jordan Parisi