My STEP Signature Project was me moving to a different city to complete an internship at a company called Crowe. My internship was a Strategy, Management, and Advisory Consulting Internship, and I had the pleasure of working with my manager and a team of 7 people in the New York Office. I worked 50 hours a week aiding my team and assisting on projects.
The biggest thing that changed my understanding of myself was being in a different city and living with a random person. Being in a large city and not knowing many people definitely was me pushing myself out of my comfort zone and something that I had not done before. And being in an incredibly professional work setting 5 days of the week was new to me as well. I had to be very disciplined with how I spent my time, and making sure I was being a reliable employee while also trying to get used to the city and the people there. I learned a lot about myself in the sense that I learned that I love a fast paced city and workplace, and need to have people around me that are supportive and there for me. I also learned that I like being independent and do not always give myself enough credit for my hard work and focus on things. I feel that after this summer, my priorities with my time have changed and also I feel that I know myself better as the type of friend and employee I am and want to be.
A huge relationship I had this summer was with my manager Gen. She truly made my internship experience so incredibly welcoming and I always knew I could lean on her for help or for anything at all. There were 3 other people on my team who were also college interns and I was lucky to be with them and now friends with them. The people in the company really did impact my entire summer and made me want to go back the same city and company post graduating at Ohio State. We all would work together, eat together and go to the various company events together. I never felt like work was too grueling because the people with me were never too serious and just genuine. It was great when my manager was the one who told me that I got a return offer instead of senior staff like other interns had. I enjoyed getting to know her and work with her and really appreciated that last meeting.
All summer, my roommate and I explored New York City. We would plan each weekend and always be doing something. Whether that be going to Central Park, Chelsea Market, Chinatown, Brooklyn, training to a New York Beach, going to museums, etc.. We always were busy and doing things together. I was so grateful to be in the city I was in, and had never stayed there before. Living in the city and then also exploring made us feel like locals, and we got to know the subway system super well. I feel that being in a new place and doing these things with my roommate was super special since it allowed for us to become friends and also trust each other more. By the end of my summer I felt like I knew the places around me so well that I didn’t even need to use Apple Maps or my phone to get anywhere. It was awesome being able to feel that way since I felt so scared in the beginning.
Lastly, while I was in New York for my internship– I got to connect with many OSU alums who graduated a year or 2 years prior. I feel like I got to know the “lay of the land” when it comes to fully living in NYC after going to school in Ohio and also being from there. Hanging out and becoming friends with people from OSU felt so familiar and great in the big city, and I feel super supported if I decide to go back since I know I have friends there I can ask questions to or just have around me! Being able to connect and reconnect with people from OSU was a gift this summer and definitely not something I took for granted. It was great to receive guidance with them and also just having them there with me.
Yes, this transformation for me was incredibly valuable for my life. This will be the summer I tell my kids about! I feel so thankful to have received the opportunity, but also to receive help from STEP to be able to attend fully in the city also. I stayed in NYU Dorm housing for the summer, and I would not have been able to go if it was not for STEP. I learned so much about myself and the type of friends I want to have and look for. I also learned a lot about the type of friend that I want to be to others. I lived with a random roommate and this was something new for me, but it turned out to be a positive experience!
I also learned that the work that I did at my internship is exactly what I want to be pursuing post grad. Having this realization was so freeing since I had done internships in the past but still wanted to see what else was out there, but after this summer I feel like I have found something special that I could be happy doing. I feel lucky to know that I like that kind of work environment and the tasks that I had to complete. My future plans involve this same type of consulting work, and maybe pursuing school again in a few years. I learned so much from the people at my company through various coffee chats and diverse projects I worked on– and feel that I understand the company and the resources it provides its employees. I will be accepting their return offer and will be back there next year! Being able to go to NYC this summer as an intern was something that perfectly aligned with my professional goals and future plans of wanting to be on the east coast. I cannot wait to get started back at Crowe in 2024. 