Antoine Gray

STEP Post-Project Reflection Prompts

My STEP Signature Project was to complete an architectural internship, which I did at HBM Architects over the summer. The goals of my Signature Project were to complete a site visit, continue learning software like AutoCAD and Revit, and complete a summer project to be present to staff members at the end of the summer, which all were completed during this experience. Through this experience, I grew my understanding of how the field operates. I learned to design/complete floor plans, site plans, interior elevations, and reflected ceiling plans, and I did a lot of 3D printing to create physical site plan boards for library projects.

At my internship, the firm I worked at focused solely on library architecture. I was able to learn and see how much community input and outreach occurs before you get to design the library. Libraries today have changed from being a place to only read books, to community centers, where career resources, events, and maker/fab lab spaces are fostered. My view on the purpose of architecture has changed to where now I realize that the health and wellness of the people who will use these spaces needs to come first. This was mentioned in college, but I gotta see it first hand at this internship.

For half of the summer, I created site plan boards and 3d prints of all our company’s library creations. These were to be displayed in our firm office to showcase our projects. If the project was in ongoing development, the site plan board would be sent to clients so they could have a visual of the project. Designing these boards helped me develop and improve my technical skills in software such as Sketchup, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop, which are used heavily in my architecture education and the workspace. For the other half of the summer, I worked on construction documentation for new library developments and renovations. I improved my skills in Revit Software, which is an essential part of the architecture career that isn’t taught in colleges due to it limiting creativity. So to be the first intern at this company to work on construction documentation was exciting, and to improve my Revit skills from my previous internship was a plus.

At my internship, I was also able to experiment with other areas of architecture that interest me like urban planning. The firm’s library planner gave me master planning tasks to complete, which exposed me to a whole other career within the architecture realm. I also did my first-ever site visit at Lima Library to complete and verify measurements of every room in the buildings, taking hundreds of photos.  At the end of my experience, I was able to complete an additional 500 hours toward the architecture licensing prerequisites, a total of 1009 hours.

My expectations for this internship and my STEP Signature Project were to complete a site visit, continue learning software like AutoCAD and Revit, and I will complete a summer project that I will present to staff members at the end of the summer. From the project, I received feedback, which I will implement in my next Co-op experience or as an architecture student. After completing this internship, I completed every one of the goals; I completed a site visit at Lima Library to verify the measurements of the building for a future addition to the structure. I was the first intern at this company to use Revit and worked on library construction documentation. My summer project was to complete site board boards of the company library projects they designed.

Real world experience is very important for architecture students, especially since a lot of the things you need to learn/experience in the field, just can’t occur in college. For example, learning the Revit software is essential in the architecture field, but isn’t taught in college since it limits creativity, but it’s used everyday in the workforce. Also real world experience, especially early on, can help you figure out what area of architecture you actually want to spend your life doing; at my internship I worked heavily on library architecture, and now I see a life-long career in it due to this experience. This internship not only prepared me for life after college, but I can still use the skills I learned in my final year of undergraduate and in masters program.

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 involved completing an internship at Dr. Segaram’s internal medicine practice. My role included greeting patients, collecting essential information such as weight and temperature, and updating the physician before consultations. Additionally, I served as a scribe during patient interactions, managed data entry, ordered medications, assisted with blood collection, and supported the doctor with other various tasks.

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.

Completing my STEP Signature Project significantly deepened my understanding of myself and my career aspirations. Interacting with patients and observing their diverse needs reinforced my desire to become a physician. This hands-on experience allowed me to see firsthand the impact I can have on patients’ lives, solidifying my commitment to pursuing a medical career. Additionally, it provided a clear picture of the skills required in internal medicine, a field that I now find particularly compelling. The internship also highlighted areas for personal growth, particularly in patient interaction. Although I entered the role with confidence, I recognized that improving these skills is essential for effective patient care. Furthermore, I learned that internal medicine practitioners deal with a broad spectrum of health issues, including those that may not be immediately apparent. This insight has made me more aware of the importance of thorough patient assessments and the potential for hidden conditions, shaping my approach to future medical practice.

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. 

During my internship with Dr. Segaram, the most transformative aspect was undoubtedly the interactions with patients. These interactions were central to the experience, as the patients were the focal point of our work. Hearing their stories and witnessing their journeys allowed me to form meaningful connections with them, particularly since many patients visited multiple times during my internship. These repeated encounters helped deepen my understanding of their experiences and reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in the medical field.

The relationships I developed with patients revealed the complexity of medical care. I learned that not all ailments are immediately visible; some patients may appear well on the outside while grappling with significant health issues internally. This realization underscored the importance of tailoring my approach to each individual, recognizing that each patient’s situation is unique. It became clear that empathetic and careful interactions are crucial, as you never fully know what someone is enduring, despite their outward appearance.

These patient interactions were instrumental in identifying my own areas for improvement. They highlighted the need for ongoing personal growth and refinement in how I engage with patients. This experience was a profound learning opportunity, demonstrating that medical practice extends beyond clinical skills to encompass emotional intelligence and adaptability. Overall, the lessons I gained from these relationships and the resulting transformations have significantly influenced my future aspirations and approach to the medical field.

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

The transformation I experienced during my internship is profoundly significant for my future. Confirming my passion for medicine through hands-on patient interactions has been a pivotal realization. Despite past uncertainties about committing to the rigorous educational path required for a medical career, this experience has solidified my enthusiasm and commitment. Understanding that medicine is where I find fulfillment and joy reassures me of my choice and fuels my motivation to pursue this demanding yet rewarding field.

Additionally, the insights gained into improving patient interactions are crucial for my development as a future physician. Recognizing that effective patient communication is a skill honed through experience has made me more mindful and observant in my approach. This growth is vital for providing compassionate and personalized care, which is essential in the medical profession. As I move forward with my academic and career goals, these lessons will guide my efforts to enhance my patient interaction skills, ensuring that I am well-prepared to meet the needs of those I serve.

My time at Wright-Patt gave me a peek into what my future career in engineering could entail. Before taking on this opportunity, it was difficult to fully grasp what kinds of responsibilities and qualities went into being a good engineer. The only references I had before was within my engineering classes at OSU or by word of mouth from working engineers. Although I had worked hard in all my engineering classes, I still feared going into my internship and finding out how little I knew. I was surrounded by brilliant people, well-experienced in the field, and I did not want to disappoint anyone. I expressed this concern to some of my co-workers and other interns, and they graciously reassured me of what kind of expectations they had for my time there. It was comforting and helped me feel more at ease in the new environment. It also allowed me to feel more connected to those around me as I no longer felt ashamed for how I felt because many others felt the same way.

The environment was unlike any other work environment I had been in before. Prior to this internship, I was used to working in the chaos that came with food service and hospitality careers. Although these careers did build good practices that I took with me into this internship, such as communication and flexibility, there was such a drastic difference between the two areas of work. Even as just a clueless intern I still felt respected and trusted in my work environment. I was trusted with my time and how I would manage it to get the tasks I needed done, a contrast to the previous work establishments I was at. This change challenged my time management skills, which I believe they improved over this summer because of it, and these skills went beyond the internship as due to the 40 hours a week schedule I was aiming for I had to manage my time better outside of work as well since I had additional goals outside of my internship.

I found myself easily adjusting to the new work scene. This originally came as a shock to me because, as I mentioned earlier, I was worried about stepping into an unfamiliar environment. I was relieved to find that my classes at OSU, specifically my Intro to Engineering, Physics, and SolidWorks classes, had set me up for success when it came to my internship. The Intro to Engineering classes had prepared me to collaborate with a team toward a specific goal. My physics classes equipped me with the proper knowledge for the project topic, and, lastly, my SolidWorks practice allowed me to have the skills to help bring the end goal to life. With this confirmation that I had the right skills and knowledge, I began to take on a new sense of independence and confidence.

Along with my knowledge, this transformation was due to the encouragement of my superiors and co-workers. As I mentioned earlier, it meant a lot to me when those around me reassured me of what the expectations were and that many others felt the same way. This, again, gave me a new sense of belonging in the work place and thus translated to me feeling more comfortable and confident in myself. There are two instances where I could fully see just how much I had changed over this short period of time. The first was when my boss told me how he was impressed by the way I got things done and did so by finding the right people to talk to. I noticed that as my confidence built up over the summer, I could complete a task with little to no monitoring; I could confidently find and speak to who I needed to, to get the job done. Although I saw a little of how I had changed simply through the actions I was taking, but it was my boss’s words that really reaffirmed to me that I had grown. The second instance is when I had my out briefing presentation. This was a big deal to me as I had never done a presentation on something with so much significance as well as in front of many higher-ups in the workplace. Along with this, the presentation had to be 20 minutes long, which would have been my longest presentation to date. My presentation went great with all my preparation, guidance from co-workers, and the fact that I had become more comfortable with those around me. I received great feedback from those in the room, and after my presentation, I was offered to stay on the team during the school year. This final big step really showed me how far I had come from just the beginning of the summer and showed me that I could trust myself to do, and do it well, what I set my mind to.

This growth I had over the summer meant so much to me, beyond what I had originally expected. I grew up in a very sheltered home, I went to the same school for my whole life, and overall never had a change of environment until starting college. College was the beginning of my growth of independence but I was still figuring myself out and feeling the pressure from those back home about who and how I should be. I relied on my family back home to make me feel confident in my decisions. Doing this internship entirely on my own showed me that I can trust myself to make the right decisions and achieve the goals I set out to achieve. This meant the world to me, as it felt like a weight had been lifted off of me, the fear of “can I do this?”, “am I doing the right things?”, or “am I do enough?” was dimmed. Although these are questions that will always linger, the trust and confidence my project gave this past summer is much stronger now than any of those doubts.

I really did not take many pictures over the summer, but here are a couple that I did have:

STEP Post-Project Reflection Prompts

By Christina Rose

Welding Engineering Major

Prompt 1:

This summer, I interned at Schaeffler, which is an automotive supplier that specializes in torque converters and eMobility. At Schaeffler, I specialized in weld process development for eAxles and Battery Modules. I conducted DOEs for seam and laser welding to test various welding parameters. Additionally, I played a key role in designing future weld assembly lines, creating fixtures and tooling using CAD software, and analyzing weld samples in a metallography lab. My main responsibilities included writing technical reports, coordinating with suppliers, metallurgical and statistical analysis, and communicating with different engineers to improve welding processes at the plant. This role honed my ability to manage multiple projects, especially in a fast-paced such as the automotive industry.

Prompt 2:

While completing my STEP Signature Project, I gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be an engineer, particularly in the manufacturing sector. I learned to work more independently and became comfortable handling complex, multifaceted projects on my own. This experience reshaped my perception of engineering from a purely technical field to one that requires leadership, effective communication, and project management skills. My assumptions about how rigid engineering roles could be were challenged, as I realized how much collaboration and cross-functional teamwork are required to solve problems in a dynamic environment like automotive manufacturing.

Additionally, I gained insight into my career path, discovering that I thrive in roles that balance technical welding projects (hands-on work) with project management. I think that working with prototypes and research projects is an ideal role for me, and I am grateful I gained the opportunity to work with such at Schaeffler.

Prompt 3:

One key event that influenced my transformation was moving to a new town and living with a new roommate, Izzy, in Wooster, OH. This was my first time truly living independently in a completely unfamiliar setting, and it required me to step out of my comfort zone and adapt to new situations. I enjoyed visiting new places in town and sharing interests with Izzy.

This sense of independence mirrored my professional responsibilities, where I was given the freedom to manage my own Laser and Seam Weld DOE projects without constant oversight. Working independently on my own DOE helped me develop the ability to lead initiatives from start to finish. I was responsible for testing welding parameters, analyzing results, and making recommendations for process improvements through lab reports and statistical data. This also honed my ability to collaborate with engineers, communicate findings, and adapt to shifting project priorities—all of which strengthened my leadership and project management skills.

Another significant experience was undergoing additional training and working shifts on the manufacturing line. These hands-on experiences gave me an appreciation for the practical challenges on the shop floor, allowing me to understand how theoretical engineering decisions affect real-world manufacturing processes. Seeing the immediate impact of engineering solutions on production was eye-opening and reinforced the importance of cross-functional collaboration.

Finally, presenting my findings and recommendations to executives at Schaeffler was a pivotal moment in my project. This experience taught me how to communicate complex technical information in a way that was accessible to a non-technical audience. It also gave me experience confidence in public speaking and talking upper management, which had always been a lacking skill for me. However, the co-op program trained us on presentation skills, and I ended up doing quite well on the presentation!

Prompt 4:

This transformation is significant because it has shaped both my academic and professional goals. The independence and leadership skills I developed during my project will serve me well in future academic pursuits, as I now have a stronger foundation in project management and technical problem-solving. I’ve realized that my career aspirations extend beyond technical roles—I want to pursue leadership positions where I can drive process improvements and manage teams effectively.

Professionally, this experience confirmed that I am well-suited for a career in manufacturing and process engineering, particularly in industries that are fast-paced and constantly evolving. The skills I gained—such as project management, collaboration, and technical analysis—will be invaluable as I continue to pursue opportunities that combine engineering expertise with leadership. This STEP Signature Project has ultimately broadened my understanding of what it means to be an engineer and clarified the type of work I am passionate about.

Figure 1: Co-ops in front of the Schaeffler Academy after completing executive presentations.

Figure:2 Weld Line for eAxle I helped design.

My STEP Signature Project provided me with the resources I needed to successfully complete my major-required, field-related Internship, where I worked as a Nature Camp Counselor with Sunbury Urban Farm. Here I spent ~45 hours a week outdoors working to cultivate youth relations with the natural world, sustainability, and the food we grow to eat. I was responsible for supervising, leading, and engaging with about 10-15 kids each week with the assistance of an adolescent junior counselor. I would facilitate pre-planned programs throughout each day, as well as be responsible for planning & facilitating a daily 1-hour program block in alignment with organization goals and the theme of that week. I maintained camp organization along with the rest of the counselor staff and often completed irregular tasks such as the application of glyphosate foliar spray to get rid of poison ivy and building + filling soil beds.

Before this position, I had never thought of myself as a leader, nor capable of facilitating anything on my own. I felt comforted by the fact that I would be working with a co-counselor, but I was pleasantly surprised by this half-truth. I have always felt like an imposter in settings that demand accountability at others’ expense. I know that I am an intelligent person with a lot to offer, but I have always avoided situations that depend on my display of that. This job offered me an in to the natural resource’s interpretative world, as I lack a lot of the hands-on experience my peers do, however, I found that in this position I was one of the more knowledgeable assets regarding environmental science and the natural world, as well as in educating with kids which is not something I’ve had prior experience in. In my very first two weeks, after training, I was assigned the oldest age group…this meant I was to be one of two on the staff (out of ~40) to be facilitating camp programs by myself. The oldest age group only had 10 kids, but you are the sole counselor for these kids who are old enough to tell when you don’t know what’s going on. This forced me to throw myself into it, when historically I would have chosen to play the role of assisting counsel, the safe option, rather than believing I had what it took to coordinate the team and lead the programs. 

Quickly, I found myself to be very successful in this role, and I was worried it would be fleeting, that I had beginner’s luck, but I chose to continue to believe in myself and threw the insecurities out the window. I got used to doing all the activities and planning by myself but was recognized for having great relations with the youngest kids as I came into contact with other groups throughout those first two weeks of camp. This was the more difficult age group and had 2-4 counselors typically, with ~12 five to seven year olds. I maintained an open mind, and was given this role consistently throughout the summer, but was typically only given 1 or 2 junior counselors, which were 15-year-olds that also required my guidance. This challenge was frustrating and rewarding as I maintained that leader-role throughout the entire summer. I became seen as a leader, a teacher for kids and coworkers, and a core part of this program. This is someone that I have always aspired to be, and it most definitely took hard work and faking confidence until it became real, however, it wouldn’t have happened the way it did without the opportunities I had in front of me, including my original assignment and the STEP Fellowship. 

I mentioned quite a few events that led to my transformation in question 2, but the list goes on. For my 6th week of this position, there was an announcement made during our mid-summer training day on July 5th to the entire staff that I was the counselor chosen to lead us in the first week of FarmChef camp, a 4-week program where 10 kids ages 8-12 can learn to harvest and cook their own food, with me as their sole counselor. I was still responsible for program facilitation, and planned a 1.5-hour program at the end of each camp day, for example, we did a forest identification walk, creek clay mining, and apron decorating. This camp was more serious than regular summer camp, but I found time to make it fun for these kids and allowed them consistent free play to allow their minds and bodies breaks while ensuring group safety and hygiene while we played or cooked. It was an honor to be seen as capable of managing such a large task, and one that no one had any prior experience or preparation in. Normally when I find myself confronted with a task that I don’t have physical or mental preparation for, I find myself wanting to make everything perfect before it lands, leading to procrastination, and thus insecurity and hesitation. I knew there was nothing I could do but go into it with everything I had and knew with confidence until it became real. This week was successful and rewarding, and I helped children feel more confident in themselves, led them to make their own meals with the guidance of a head chef, and ensured knife & fire safety while we prepared food. The following 3 weeks I became a resource that the following FarmChef counselors utilized as I paved their way, a feeling I had never experienced before. 

Although I was seen by my supervisor, coworkers, and campers as a kind and hardworking counselor, my other assets were acknowledged as well. I was what was called a floater for a total of two week during the summer, a position often utilized for counselors who need more guidance or possibly more time off. However, my experience was different, as these two separate times I had large roles around the farm. The first time, I was tasked with completing many hands-on projects around the farm. This includes, but is not limited to, planter bed construction, bed filling with compost and soil which required me to transport hundreds of pounds of material across the farm throughout the week, archway construction which required me to dig two 5-foot holes about 1 foot in diameter following by filling them with concrete around the wooden posts we sawed. I also assisted in remaking the pollinator gardens in the front of the farm, which involved uprooting one day and planting the next. I also had the chance to apply glyphosate via foliar spray to every poison ivy sprout I could locate around the farm, using my knowledge of how a vine(liana) like this lives and reproduces. I got to incorporate my schooling within this internship every single day through education and smaller hands-on actions, but this day really put my body and mind to the test. Most floaters had farm tasks to complete throughout the day, but this primarily consisted of chores and assisting groups that needed it, so I saw this extensive project completion as something to be really proud of. This also led me to start conversations with my supervisor/program director about coming back next summer as a farmer.

The second time I was a floater was much different. I was 1 of 2 counselors responsible for leading a program to every group one week. My program was Escape Rooms, and there were 2 separate games for the different age groups, still requiring me to curate each program depending on the specific group I was working with. This enhanced my knowledge of developmental levels more rapidly than counseling did, a tool I’m glad to have as an Interpretator. I was very nervous to lead this even though this job has really put my fear of public speaking to the test, due to the fact that I lead my own group each day and often have to give larger group speeches, anywhere between fire safety and bodily boundaries. What made this task more intimidating to me was the perception of every counselor working with a group that week, the repetition of doing each program several times a day, many times that week and the comparisons I would feel between them, and the difficulty of making the games fun for each person in each group. I also found through doing all of these that the counselors in each group would congregate and chat with some observation while I led the activity, which took some of the pressure off the feeling of swaying perception but added the weight of leading every single child at camp through this activity without their assistance in supervision and guided engagement. This challenge was satisfying because every single time the program would end and I would once again realize I did it and could always do it. Confidence goes a long way, but being pushed into opportunities as a result of my hard work is a blessing and a privilege. I am very grateful to have had this growing opportunity and it’s gratifying to remember that it all began with me committing to STEP and following it through. I had an original program under the Leadership category, but that program was canceled last minute due to unusual circumstances, yet it seems fated that I was led to gain leadership experience anyway.

This transformational experience is valuable to my personal growth and in my future careers in parks and recreation management, forestry, and wildlife. While working amongst the 90% native forest of Sunbury Urban Farm I was able to enhance my course-gained knowledge via application in a real-world setting both through my own cognition and through educating & conversing with others. Regularly throughout each work day, I talked about the natural observations I and others experienced. We would think through them, identify, find resources in others based on what we have learned about each other’s academic and personal experiences, and incorporate technologies like field guides and Seek. As I move through life I observe and apply my knowledge, I identify woody plants as I walk to my classes and take time to observe habitats on a minute level, but working in a plot of intense greenery and forest habitat on a 15-acre square in the middle of Columbus, OH for every day of the summer was more than a privilege, and I took full advantage of applying my knowledge to the landscape and how it changed throughout the day. I noticed a lot of my coworkers had a lot of fun, they would make songs with each other, played the funnest games, and made sure their campers were having a great time, which was amazing! The difference I noticed was that I was actively educating, something I saw maybe 1 or 2 counselors do regularly beside me. I intentionally worked to translate knowledge I gained in college or throughout my life for the people I was working with, kids and coworkers alike. By this, I mean I take the time to think through each piece of knowledge I share and curate it for the person as I think they might best understand something, but in a manner that attempts to negate my bias. It was really crucial for me to have this environmental education practice and dually understand so much while acknowledging how much I can never know about how differential perspectives and learning styles can be and how wide they can vary person to person. Honoring this is easy for me, but putting it into practice is a whole other skill and I feel proud of the teacher I have become. I never thought I would be able to immerse myself into the interpretative world due to a fear of public speaking and a lack of confidence in my knowledge of the natural world, but this position has set the stage for my career, not to mention, helped strengthen my personal perception and enhanced my growth in many facets. I am thankful to STEP for assisting me through this experience, allowing me to stay on my feet while I lived here in Columbus for this Internship to transform my personal, academic, and professional growth.

Kids being artistically creative using nature

FarmChef campers harvesting peppers

I was part of a team that excavated megalonyx fossils and digitized the fossils to understand the fossilization history. We also radiocarbon-dated the fossils to see if it was different from the ones that were already on display. Our work will be part of classroom experiences and online media.

I gained an understanding of how the world works inside my major. It is a competitive job market where only the most talented of individuals can succeed. I lacked experience and the proper knowledge to succeed. When I first tried to get internships involving paleontology, I was rejected from multiple institutions because I hadn’t taken any classes that they looked for or I didn’t stand out enough in the crowd of hundreds of other applicants. But I did not give up. I used my connections within the university to land a position that would help me boost my standing within my field. With this newfound knowledge, I can be better prepared to promote myself to institutions outside of the university.

The main interaction that helped me during my STEP Signature Project was with my Professor, Loren Babcock. He helped guide me through the process of what he does and how he does it. I’ve known Loren for a little over a year now and he has helped me numerous times. He explains things that I want to know with great detail and although he is a very busy man, he always finds time to help me out and guides me along the path I want to take. He offered me a job to help him with a project with the megalonyx that I plan on expanding into with my thesis in the future.

The work I’ve done during this project helped prepare me for other jobs outside the university. I have done work that professionals in my field typically do such as excavation and 3-D modeling. I believe the most important part of preparing for my career is to get hands-on experience and that’s precisely what I’ve done. Although I should get more hands-on experience, as much as I possibly can to get ready, the work I’ve just done is an important first step.

My role in this internship also has an important part that has to do with more than myself. The job I’ve done will be used to help public education. The 3-D models that I helped produce will be available to the public to use in educational programs and if they want to, they could 3-D print the models to put on display or have the chance to physically feel a fossil that otherwise could be inaccessible for them. To help other people learn as much as possible, that is one of my goals in life.

This development in my life matters because it got me closer to my goals in life. With this experience, I am even more motivated to do well in my academic career. I want to do well in my classes to boost my standing among my peers and be more valuable in the job market. If I do well in school, then I can achieve my lifetime goal of becoming a paleontologist, and cross off my academic, personal, and professional goals. My plan because of this development is to go to graduate school and get my master’s degree. I am not sure where I want to go yet, but I know how to get there.

My Signature Project was an internship. This internship was with the Walt Disney Company out in California. During my project as an engineering intern, I assisted with safety audits around the world. This opportunity was only possible with the help of my amazing team. I admire their passion towards safety and the company.

My entire life was based in Ohio. I grew up in a small town and now attend Ohio State. When I received the offer to move two-thousand miles from home, I hopped on that opportunity. Not only was I moving across the country, but I was also entering my first real office job with a company I had only dreamed of working for. My perspective on myself and the world changed.

Before joining my team, I had no expectations. As soon as I walked in the door, I was thrown into our first audit on Hotels and Horticulture. This first month was constant work. From fieldwork to documentation reviews to PowerPoint building. But as the audit wrapped up, the work slowed down. Our next audit would not be for a few months. With this downtime, I learned a lot about myself. Although I enjoyed the job, I realized I could not sit at a desk all day, every day. 

As an engineer, desk work is expected of us. Sitting, working with AutoCAD and other programs is part of an engineer’s daily routine. A small piece of me knew that was not what I wanted to do. My month of field work and constant tasks really grabbed my attention. 

I began to explore other options of where my engineering degree can take me. Throughout my internship, I set up one-on-one meetings with different departments. This not only built my network but made me realize I was not alone. These new connections led me to more connections with people who have the same frame of mind as I do. With their help, I found departments around the resort/company that piqued my interest, giving me a step towards my future.

Since becoming a Cast Member (someone who is an employee of Disney), my world view has changed. People come to Disney to escape and create memories.

This opportunity to be a Cast Member changed my worldview. In orientation we learn the value of our job backstage and onstage. Families from all over the world come to Disney parks to live in the fantasy of their dreams. I have learned during my time at Disney, that we are the magic. My office lives behind Disneyland Park. If I forget our magic, I can walk into the park and watch these magical moments happen. This opportunity re-sparked a dream inside of me. Every day it inspires me to keep our parks safe, one of my main goals of my internship. 

My job is not only to perform safety audits to also guarantee the safety of our guests and cast, but also to re-spark the magic in every person that steps through our gates. 

This self-change is significant for my future because now I know what direction I want to go. Before, I was lost and going through the motions of school. Now I have an idea of where I want to be. This will spark passion for the final two semesters of my degree and my focus to find a career. I am thankful for direction and guidance from my peers, mentors , and managers to get to this realization.

My inspiration for the parks and the people enjoying them impacts my life because it provides a different perspective on theme parks. A perspective that drives me to continue in the industry of happiness. I will continue to make magic whether I am in the parks as a guest, Cast Member or an employee of a different company. I found my passion that led me into this industry, and that same passion that drives my future towards my goals.

My STEP Signature Project was a summer internship with a data security company called Immuta. At Immuta, I worked as a Product Engineering Intern and rotated between the three product engineering teams located in the Columbus office. I took part in developing Immuta’s product at three different levels of their tech stack.

Going into the summer, my goal was to gain some insight into how engineering teams operate, what life is like in a corporate work environment, and what area of software engineering I want to pursue. Now, after completing the internship, I can confidently say I accomplished all three of these goals and more. Throughout the summer, I learned about how to communicate with other engineers and managers and improved on some of my weaknesses in this area. I also discovered that I love working in a team environment and on a product that is constantly changing. In addition, I realized how important it is to surround myself with people who are smarter than me, or with people that have different areas of expertise. Finally, I concluded that I don’t want to pick a specific field of software engineering. Instead, I found that I feel fulfilled when I am able to learn during the process, so I generally want to pursue a career where this can continue. All of these discoveries have given me a new perspective on how I want to launch my career come graduation.

Several important factors led to the transformation that I described. Many of these interactions are directly related to the people I worked with and how we communicated on a daily basis. The other important factor is the fact that I genuinely enjoyed the tasks I was given, so I felt compelled to learn and make progress throughout the summer.

The first factor I want to point out is the weekly 1-on-1 meetings that I had with each of my managers. Immuta has constructed a cultural environment that encourages each of the managers to have an open feedback loop with their employees. As a result, most of the managers – and all of the engineering managers in Columbus – hold weekly or biweekly 1-on-1s with their employees. As an intern, I was scheduled for weekly meetings. These meetings were fantastic because they gave me an avenue to discuss the quality of my work and any questions I had about it. The meetings also allowed me to have in-depth discussions about professional development and the tech industry as a whole, so I learned a lot during these meetings.

Another important factor in my transformation was the work I did during the internship. The internship took place over twelve weeks, and I spent about four weeks with each product team. Each product team focused on a different area of the product: full-stack development of the application, delivery of the application, and site reliability. This means that I contributed to three different teams with three different areas of work. As a result, I gained new skills in each of these domains. What I realized during the summer is that I don’t have a favorite domain. Instead, I find all of the work I do compelling if I am learning while doing it and working with a team of people that I enjoy. In the future, I want to take what I learned and continue to build up my knowledge in each of these domains.

The last factor I want to point out is the people I worked with at Immuta. This factor is a general catch-all for the relationships I built at Immuta. Throughout the summer, each person I worked with was always willing to provide help or guidance on the work I was doing, and this helped advance my learning and productivity. In addition, I was able to make friends with coworkers, expanding the relationships beyond a strictly professional nature. I credit this to the culture of Immuta and the people that have built this culture. These interactions opened my eyes to what work can be and feel like daily, and I now know that I want to work in a place with this environment.

This transformation is significant for my life because I gained important insight into how I want my career to take shape. My goal is to search for a job and go into industry upon graduating. Prior to this summer, there were many questions about my career goals that I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know where I wanted to work or what kind of role I wanted to pursue. I also had no experience with a large company, so I didn’t know how important the company culture and work environment would be to me. Now, I have a more well-rounded perspective on how to begin my career. In addition, I am taking away so much knowledge from this experience, and I feel like this experience has acted as a catalyst for more learning. Without participating in this internship, I would feel a lot less comfortable with pursuing my goals.

I had the privilege of interning as a Foundation Communications Intern at the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Foundation. It was an honor to work closely with Melissa Koester, the Director of Donor Engagement, from whom I learned valuable skills and strategies that I will continue to apply throughout my professional career.

During my time as a Foundation Communications Intern, I experienced a significant shift in both my professional mindset and personal confidence. Initially, I assumed that navigating the professional world, particularly in a healthcare foundation, would be overwhelming and that I would play a small, supporting role. However through hands-on involvement in project management, social media marketing, and event planning, I realized I had the capacity to contribute meaningfully. Working closely with Melissa, further challenged my assumptions about leadership and collaboration. I saw firsthand how thoughtful planning, effective communication, and attention to detail contribute to successful outcomes, transforming my perspective on how to approach professional challenges. The experience also helped me grow in confidence and adaptability. By sitting in on meetings and contributing to projects, I became more comfortable speaking up and taking on responsibilities that once felt intimidating. Reviewing donor letters, creating graphics, and preparing marketing materials not only honed my creative skills but also taught me to approach tasks with a problem-solving mindset. Overall, my internship reshaped my view of the professional world, showing me that with the right mindset and support, I am capable of thriving in any environment and continually growing both creatively and professionally. 

One of the most impactful aspects was working on social media marketing for events like Rally For The Cure and Teal We Find A Cure. These events not only allowed me to tap into my creative skills by designing graphics and posts but also provided a strong sense of purpose. Knowing that the projects I worked on were supporting causes that raised awareness and helped people added a deeper layer of meaning to my role. This shifted my understanding of how marketing and communication can be used not only to promote events but also to make a tangible difference in the community. 

Another transformative element was the mentorship I received from Melissa Koester. Working closely with her, I learned valuable insights about leadership, project management, and donor engagement. Her positive attitude and open communication style created an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and exploring my own ideas. Melissa’s approach to guiding me through tasks and encouraging me to take ownership of projects built my confidence and fostered my ability to work independently. I’ve found that with the right support and mindset, I could contribute meaningfully to high-stake projects, even as an intern. 

Additionally, sitting in on meetings and being part of the planning process for events gave me a behind the scenes look at how much coordination and detail go into successful campaigns. Observing how professionals discussed logistics, addressed challenges, and strategized made me more aware of the importance of clear communication, teamwork, and adaptability. This experience directly translated into my own growth, as I learned to take on problems with a more organized and solution-focused mindset. Tasks like reviewing letters for accuracy and ensuring that event materials were comprehensive taught me the importance of attention to detail in delivering a polished and professional final product. These experiences, combined with the opportunity to take on real responsibilities, played a crucial role in expanding my skill set and boosting my confidence in my creative and professional abilities. I left the internship feeling more prepared to tackle new challenges and pursue creative endeavors, knowing that I had developed both the skills and the mindset needed to thrive in a professional setting. This transformation was not only about building technical expertise but also about believing in my ability to make meaningful contributions, no matter the setting or the challenge. 

This transformation is especially significant as an Arts Management major with a minor in Communications because it directly aligns with my academic and career aspirations. The skills I developed during my internship, such as event planning, marketing, and effective communication, are fundamental to both fields. By working on real-world projects that combined creativity with strategic thinking, I gained practical experience that complements the theoretical knowledge I’ve acquired in my studies at Ohio State. This hands-on experience has strengthened my understanding of how to manage projects and communicate effectively with diverse audiences, both of which are critical to succeeding in arts management. This change is valuable to my personal growth and confidence as I approach graduation and transition into the professional world. Being able to contribute meaningfully to causes and events during my internship reinforced my passion for using arts and communication to impact communities. The leadership skills I honed and the confidence I gained in taking on new challenges will be instrumental as I pursue future roles in administration, marketing, or donor relations. This transformation has better equipped me to navigate the complexities of these fields and approach my career goals with a great sense of capability and purpose.