1. During my STEP Signature Project, I interned as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at DC Advisory. My daily responsibilities included assisting clients with the sale of their businesses and creating sophisticated and detailed PowerPoint presentations to facilitate discussions between sellers and buyers throughout the mergers and acquisitions process.

2. During my summer internship in the field of Investment Banking, particularly in mergers and acquisitions, I gained a profound appreciation for the intricate and essential work that happens behind the scenes when businesses buy and sell one another. For instance, when the average person reads a headline about a company acquiring another, such as Sprint acquiring T-Mobile in 2020, they might skim over it without realizing the extensive process involved. There’s an entire world of activity that goes into making these deals happen.

The process of making an acquisition involves multiple layers, far beyond the business transactions alone. There are significant personal components, especially in cases where the CEOs are the founders who have owned their companies for decades and are now looking to sell. In these instances, when an Investment Bank steps in to facilitate the process, it can be highly emotional. Founders often see their companies as their “babies,” and selling them is a significant and personal milestone. When the deal is completed, these founders are rewarded with substantial financial gains, enabling them to secure their future, fund their children’s education, cover essential expenses, and plan for retirement. The mergers and acquisitions process is not just a headline; it is a complex, 6-9 month journey filled with countless underlying details and emotional moments.

3. During my STEP Signature Project, my internship in Investment Banking, the transformation I experienced was deeply influenced by my personal interactions with the CEOs of founder-owned companies that we helped sell. One memorable event was working on the sale of a family-owned business where I had the chance to meet the CEO, who’s parents had built the company from the ground up and now they had taken over to keep it running. Hearing their story firsthand, from the initial struggles to the eventual success, gave me a profound appreciation for the dedication and hard work that goes into building a business. This interaction made me realize the emotional weight behind these transactions and the significance of our role in facilitating such pivotal moments in their lives.

Engaging with these CEOs allowed me to understand their personal stakes and the deep attachment they had to their businesses. These conversations were enlightening, as they highlighted the human aspect of mergers and acquisitions, which often gets overshadowed by the financial and strategic elements. These interactions taught me the importance of empathy and listening in our profession, as these CEOs were entrusting us to help them sell something incredibly precious to them.

These experiences had a transformational impact on me, changing how I view the business world and my role within it. Understanding the personal stories behind these transactions made me realize that investment banking is not just about numbers and deals but it’s also about helping people navigate significant life changes. This perspective shift has not only deepened my appreciation for the field but also motivated me to approach my work with greater sensitivity and respect for the individuals involved. It reinforced the value of building genuine relationships and the importance of seeing beyond the financial aspects to the human stories at the heart of each transaction.

4. This transformational experience matters to my future goals and plans because it solidified that I want to continue working in the investment banking industry. Understanding the personal stories and emotional journeys of the CEOs I interacted with has given me a profound sense of purpose in my career. It made me realize that I want to be there to make a meaningful impact, guiding these leaders through the complexities of the selling in the mergers & acquisitions process, which is often unfamiliar and daunting for them.

Being able to empathize with their situations and provide the necessary support during such a significant transition is incredibly fulfilling. This experience has taught me the importance of combining technical expertise with emotional intelligence, and I am committed to bringing both to my future roles. I look forward to building genuine relationships with clients, helping them navigate the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions, and ensuring they feel understood and supported throughout the process. This approach not only benefits my clients but also aligns with my personal values and aspirations, making my career in investment banking both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful.

1. My STEP signature project was a summer internship. I was an accounting intern at Gilbane Building Company. It gave me the chance to get equipped with the construction world and see the business side of a large company. I did a range of things like visiting current sites, sitting in on meetings, and handling change orders.

2. The view and expectations I have for myself have changed while completing my internship. Going into it, I had a lot of imposter syndrome and was worried about how I would be perceived. Once I became more comfortable in my role, I was more confident in my ability to work in the real world. I am less scared to graduate and start building my career because I have been able to have a small taste of what is ahead and I am looking forward to it. I am more confident in my skills which has made me more motivated to be successful. Something I have taken away from this experience is that there is so much opportunity to grow. This has really motivated me because I have been able to see how hard work translates into success.

3. Being able to gain experience in the business world gave me a lot of tools to grow more confident in my skills. Having an 8-5 schedule and simply being in the office allowed me to navigate a new schedule and routine. Having a set schedule motivated me more to stay busy and balance my work life. Because my experience with the structure was positive, it made me more excited for my future career. I feel like I have gained soft skills that are needed to make a new job less intimidating. This has given me the confidence to know that I have the tools to be successful and any doubt I have is not valid.

Another aspect that helped me grow as a person was the relationships I made. Having a mentor and supervisor taught me the importance of having someone you can depend on when starting a new job. When there are people around you who support you, it creates an environment where people feel supported and challenge themselves more. Connections are a powerful tool and being able to build connections with people who care about my success has meant a lot to me. Seeing all that the success of the people around me created motivation for me to follow their lead.

Taking advantage of the resources provided for me was a huge help to grow as well. My internship provided a lot of tools to give me the chance to do anything I desired. There were videos and projects that you could complete to grow skills, specific to your role as well as things like Excel and Microsoft. I went in with the mindset that I needed to be a sponge to all information and did just that. Taking advantage of the time and resources grew my skills across the board. Simply listening to and observing everyone around me allowed me to be open to growth. 

4. This change and growth have been valuable to every aspect of my life. By not being scared of the future and being confident in my ability to succeed, I have become a more well rounded person. Knowing that I am comfortable with my skills makes me want to push myself more because I know that it is not as scary as it seems. I am also more academically motivated because I want to learn skills I can take with me post-graduation. My future plans feel much more attainable because of all the experience and clarity I have developed.

For my STEP Signature project, I interned at Abercrombie & Fitch in the supply chain department, specifically under inbound transportation. This team is primarily divided into ocean freight, air freight, and inland transportation. I worked primarily with the ocean team, and I participated in our carrier meetings, updated our ocean transportation rate sheets, and delivered two projects at the end of my nine weeks. The first was a department-wide internship with the other 3 supply chain interns, in which we found possible applications for Microsoft Copilot to boost efficiency along with a high-level overview of the application. My individual project was research on the alliances between major ocean carriers and their futures, meaning I had to use what I learned to make predictions on how their actions would affect the market.

This internship opened my eyes to what work is like after graduation; I had taken for granted so many of the little things that add up to create a successful environment. I was shocked at how important it was to maintain relationships, both internally and externally. The friendliness around the office made asking questions and collaborating beyond easy, and treating our carriers the same way encouraged them to help us out when market disruptions peaked. On the topic of disruptions, I was also very shocked at how often regional events or disruptions can have impacts on the global supply chain. It made me realize the importance of staying informed and being knowledgeable on a diverse range of topics.

I also gained a clearer understanding of my abilities. Going into the internship, I was very fearful that I was underprepared or that the difficulty of a corporate job would be too much, but I found that I picked things up rather quickly relative to the amount of information in the first few weeks. I had grown very comfortable with multiple responsibilities entrusted to me, and the positive feedback I received at the end made me much more confident in my abilities.

The events that helped me realize these things were seeing events occur such as the war in the Mediterranean, the imminence of a railway strike in Canada, and the recent shutdown over protests in Bangladesh. Seeing the implications of these events despite them being hundreds of miles away made me realize how connected the supply chain really is. The war in Israel has essentially shut down ocean cargo in the Red Sea, making ocean transportation lengthier and more expensive. This in turn increased the global volume of air transportation and thus the price. The Canadian railway strike has been in debate for over two months, with workers coming close to an agreement to strike later this month. While it hasn’t had explicit effects yet, it has been something to keep an eye on along with backup plans. The protests in Bangladesh shut down factories and ports in the country for a little over a week, delaying our cargo and forcing us to work more closely with our carriers to solve the issues.

When thinking about the relationship aspect of the industry, my boss Don did an amazing job of showing me the importance. He first demonstrated by action and was very friendly and eager to teach me when I was assigned to inbound transportation. He consistently encouraged questions and took the time to introduce me to other departments. I quickly became very comfortable and was able to learn at a much faster pace had he not otherwise. He also was very clear in emphasizing the importance of relationships with our carriers. When we got on our meeting calls, he took the time to have the same friendly chitchat about their lives the same way we did in the office. It was clear that our relationship with them wasn’t purely work and that improved their output for us. From our various carriers, I heard multiple times in meetings that they would see what they could do when we were in pinches since “it was us” or “since we’ve been working together so long”. It became clear that the littlest things can make the biggest impacts.

The ways I saw the growth in myself and gained that trust in my work was by constantly asking my supervisor for feedback and assuring I understood the topic at hand. I would always write down that which I didn’t know or had questions about to discuss after our meetings, and Don would make sure to answer everything thoroughly. Eventually, the amount of questions I would have naturally declined and I would ask more nuanced things as I gained a deeper understanding. Constantly making sure I kept myself up to speed and continuously asking for points of improvement kept me confident in the fact that I was setting myself up for success and making an impact.

All of these things will be vital in establishing myself as someone invaluable to their work as I learned about the intangible aspects of supply chain that enable teams to work at their highest ability and many technical points that I will hopefully be able to apply in class and in a full-time role. Not only did I learn what is necessary for success and a lot about supply chain terminology, but I also gained an understanding of the amount of effort required for a 9-5 job. I am much more cognizant of setting my own standards of quality as I do not get graded. Switching from aiming for an amount correct on a test to delivering analytical reports based off my own judgment forced me to be very diligent. For the same tasks, the amount of work goes up tremendously because of the focus of quality, and I am very glad to have learned this going into senior year. I hope to apply this going into the school year and improving my performance on both of my executive boards. I hope to improve the fluidity of events and scheduling by improving communication and assuring that everything necessary is completed or delegated. I hope this will prepare me for leading in a full-time role after graduation.

1.

My step signature project was a summer golf internship with Firestone Farms. My internship was composed of general maintenance of the course, which included upkeep of sand traps as well as keeping geese off the course using the golf course dog named Bogey. Later in the summer I was able to help with different aspects of the company such as the organization of events and the stocking and selling of pro shop equipment.

2.

During this internship I have found joy in the simple routines of my everyday work at the golf course. However, I have learned the most from my coworkers and costumers. I have always struggled becoming close to people that are more than 5 years older than me, however in this job it came very easily to me. My coworkers were all older except for the two other interns and most of the costumers were older men. I enjoyed listneing to their stories good and bad and each person had a different perspective about the world. This difference in belief was not personal, and all could get along through the game of golf. Costumers were happy to be where I was and I was happy to help them. I think I now have a newfound understanding of the culture of my elders. No culture is perfect whether it is from a different country or a different generation, but all have valuable lessons to learn from. The lessons from the older generation were often a “work hard, play hard” mindset. Many of the men playing golf had their fair share of money or were retired and made clear of the importance of money to pay for ones lifestyle. These statements were a reinforcement of this generations stereotype, but there is a lot of value in discipline and hardwork that should not be overlooked.

3.

Often when repeating an event over and over again I tend to get bored. However, during this internship I found a lot of joy in running the dog every morning and cleaning up the sand traps. The sunrise in the morning, the birds singing, and the morning dew always started my day off very positively and peacefully. Routine can sometimes be mundane, but it is also very comforting. I often did this work alone in the morning, which was good because I am not morning person and this gave me time to wake up and be outside. I loved spending time with the golf course dog Bogie. The dog would have the time of her life running each morning and I would have a good time watching her.

Furthermore, helping with organizing the sunday tournament was transformational. I would say that I am not much of a leader. I find it easier to do things on my own or have someone tell me what to do. Therefore, I do not have a lot of experience leading. This opportunity was good practive. I would tell people where to go and what to do. I helped organize the layout of the event as well as told others where and what to do. Normally I would not enjoy this, but the environment was very causal and natural which allowed me to have a good time and do better at my job.

As I said above the people I got the pleasure of working with and got to meet led to my biggest transformation. In university everyone is around the sme age and there seems to be cliques of certain types of people. Many people have not grown into themselves yet. But at my work with older people, they seem to know exactly who they are and are not afraid to show it. Sometimes their beliefs are extreme, but they are not superficial which is what is important. I enjoy interacting with people who are true to themselves without fear. Also this is my first job in costumer service where I interact with strangers regularly. This is good for improving my social skills. Some people may come off as rude, and it is important to know how to deal with this. However, most people were very polite and happy, because they are ready to golf. Overall I would say the whole experience was educational and transformational. This was a completely new experience for me and I had a lot to learn.

4.

Learning new skills, meeting new people, and gaining new perspectives is always useful. The new people I connected with could be future employers, coworkers, and freinds. My new perspectives allow me to be more open-minded and accepting of others beliefs. The new skills I learned will be good socially, interacting with strangers every day and making quick connection is important in any job. Specifically, during interviews where the first impression is crucial. Not only this, but if I want to work in the service industry as a waiter, this job is good experience. Having an internship on my resume is also importnat for future employers to see. However, doing an internship just for the resume in my opinion is a waste of time if it is not enjoyed. I can do something that I enjoy and learn similar lessons. I am very grateful for Links at Firestone Farms for providing me with this opportunity to learn, grow, and play golf!

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

My STEP Signature Project was a summer internship with BASF at their Hannibal, MO site. I worked in the Process Development Lab optimizing a reaction that was currently failing on the plant scale. Outside of the chemistry, which is confidential under an NDA, I got experience networking, presenting, and working on a team. 

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

Before this summer, I had never been west of Indiana. However, I travelled all the way to MO by myself, and being independent all summer long, proving to myself that I am adaptable in hard situations.  

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

Because I knew no one here, I was forced to socialize and expand my horizons, which helped me grow as a person by keeping confident in situations I previously would have been uncomfortable in. Also, there were times in lab when my chemistry or math was doubted, but I stood my ground and kept confident, gaining me respect out of my peers. Lastly, my peers were very diverse, and so I got to experience adapting to a team with different backgrounds of mine, which will surely help me in the future.  

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

This is valuable because even the smartest person could have an unsuccessful career if they don’t have people skills. Fine tuning my people skills will pay off in the future.  

My STEP Signature Project involved an internship at The Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence in the Marketing and Communication department. During this internship, I was able to gain valuable insights into the center’s operations and the broader marketing techniques employed by Ohio State.

One significant transformation during my project was my realization of the incredible work being conducted by students at the center. It was very inspiring to see my peers working on impressive and ground-breaking projects. This definitely broadened my perspective of the opportunities and potential of our university. I developed a deeper appreciation for the innovative spirit that drives academic research and development, reshaping my understanding of the role academic institutions play in advancing progress.

Another significant transformation was in my writing skills. My work with technical documents was challenging at first. However, this challenge allowed me to refine my technical writing skills, an area I previously saw as a weakness. Through this experience, I nurtured my technical writing skills and became a more versatile and confident writer overall.

Several key events and interactions during my STEP Project significantly contributed to my transformation. My supervisor, Jocelyn, was a tremendous help in my learning process. She assigned me various projects that exposed me to different facets of marketing and communication, helping me learn new techniques and programs. Jocelyn’s guidance and feedback were crucial in improving my writing skills, especially in translating complex technical information into more accessible content.

Working on projects under Jocelyn’s supervision allowed me to explore many new territories in marketing. For instance, one project involved creating a new landing page for our website focused on the student experience at CDME. This task involved learning a new website creation system and navigating OSU’s brand guidelines. Seeing the page slowly come together was incredibly rewarding and boosted my confidence in my ability to work independently on unfamiliar projects.

Additionally, working with other staff and students further enriched my experience, showing me the collaborative nature of working at CDME. Interacting with students working on various projects deepened my appreciation for the diverse skills and knowledge within our university.

Lastly, working in a field I was not very familiar with enhanced my skills and expanded my knowledge. I had to adapt to new terminologies and concepts, which was initially challenging. However, the experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to develop a more versatile skill set. By the end of the summer, I felt more confident in my ability to handle complex technical content and communicate it effectively. This transformation demonstrated my capability to learn and excel in new areas.

This experience is significant for my life as it has provided progress towards my career goals.The skills and insights gained from this experience are invaluable as I plan to leverage them in my future professional endeavors. Improving my technical writing has enhanced my confidence and competence in the field. Additionally, this experience has sparked an interest in pursuing a career in higher education marketing. Marketing an experience rather than a product has proven to be meaningful and aligns with my passions, further motivating me to contribute to the academic community. The confidence in my ability to tackle complex tasks and communicate effectively makes this experience an important step towards achieving my long-term career objectives.

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

For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in the Washington Academic Internship Program in Washington, D.C. for twelve weeks this summer. During this project, I lived in Capitol Hill and earned twelve credit hours while attending classes, participating in professional development workshops, and going on study tours each week. I also worked as the Congressional Affairs Intern for the American Maritime Congress, where I conducted policy research, attended legislative hearings, and created content while managing our social media accounts.

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

During my STEP Signature Project, I discovered my ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and further developed my strengths in communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. This transformative journey not only refined my skills in policy research and content creation but also allowed me to build a valuable network in Washington, D.C. Engaging with diverse audiences through social media highlighted how different perspectives can enrich public dialogue, especially on significant topics like public policy. Living and working on Capitol Hill deepened my understanding of legislative complexities and broadened my appreciation for the profound impact of thoughtful policy-making. Additionally, balancing coursework, professional development, and internship duties sharpened my time management and adaptability. Ultimately, this experience has reshaped my perspective on the nation’s legislative processes and highlighted the crucial roles that policy, communication, and public advocacy play in shaping those processes.

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

Over the course of my STEP Signature Project, attending hearings on Capitol Hill was a pivotal experience that deepened my understanding of legislative complexities and highlighted the importance of thoughtful policy-making. Two hearings in particular—a session on maritime security and relations with China, and another on the response to a major bridge collapse—stood out to me. These hearings illustrated the importance of informed, strategic policy-making and how advocacy impacts real-world outcomes. Observing how our government addresses diverse stakeholder needs especially enriched my understanding of the legislative process. This experience has profoundly shaped my approach to public service, emphasizing the need for strategic decision-making and thoughtful engagement to drive meaningful policy change.

In addition to attending Capitol Hill hearings, participating in professional development workshops, cultivating a strong relationship with my manager and WAIP mentor, and engaging in insightful coffee chats with industry professionals made my STEP Project transformative. These experiences were instrumental in shaping my understanding of public service careers and underscored the importance of networking and establishing meaningful connections in public affairs. Through these interactions, I gained a nuanced perspective on various public sector career paths, deepened my knowledge of the intricacies of public service roles, and expanded my professional network in Washington, D.C. This exposure not only broadened my career outlook but also highlighted the value of building and maintaining professional relationships for both personal and career growth.

A third and final experience that contributed to these changes was working directly on a bill related to supporting the maritime industry with my boss. In a detailed meeting where we discussed and edited the bill for several hours, I interacted with maritime industry professionals and learned about what is feasible to ask of Congress and what is necessary for making a bill a success. This hands-on involvement provided me with invaluable insights into the legislative process and offered first-hand experience in shaping policy. It taught me the complexities of drafting legislation and the importance of detailed, informed input from experts when trying to craft effective policies.

Overall, attending Capitol Hill hearings, engaging in professional development workshops, and participating in drafting legislation were pivotal experiences that contributed to my transformation this summer. These experiences honed my communication, critical thinking, and networking skills, deepened my understanding of public service and policy-making, and reshaped my perspective on the importance of strategic engagement and effective advocacy when creating impactful public policy.

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

The transformation I experienced during my STEP Signature Project is significant because it has directly advanced my academic and professional goals in public service. By immersing myself in the fast-paced environment of policy and engaging deeply with the legislative process, I have gained a nuanced understanding of policy-making and its real-world impacts. This experience has refined my skills in communication, critical thinking, and strategic advocacy—key components of a successful career in public service. Additionally, working on legislative drafting and attending high-stakes hearings provided me with firsthand knowledge of how thoughtful, informed policy can drive meaningful change. Building a robust professional network in Washington, D.C., and gaining insights from industry experts will be crucial for securing a role in public service in the future. Overall, the personal and professional growth I achieved this summer not only enhanced my ability to succeed in government and public policy but has also motivated me to continue pursuing impactful policy solutions.

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This summer I had the pleasure of interning for Target at their headquarters in Minneapolis. I was an intern on the Space, Presentation, and Transitions team and within that, specifically working under the Analytics and Insights team. SPT works to create planograms and adjacency charts that store team members can use to know where items should go. My project was to investigate why store team members change the number of items that appear on the shelf in store to be something other than what we at headquarters in SPT, thought it should be. I poured over data, met with stakeholders, and made decisions about what can be done to alleviate the workload for stores with the potential of saving Target $3.2m dollars worth of labor hours each year.

One of the biggest impacts this project had one me is realizing just how disconnected team members in stores feel (and are) from team members at headquarters. And this isn’t true just at Target, but for also for various companies. While working on my project I felt proud to be advocating for store team members. I felt that in SPT, a lot of work is done to make store teams job’s easier. But when that work is done inaccurately or poorly at HQ it trickles down and gets multiplied across over two thousand stores across the country. What would’ve been a 45 second fix at HQ, might instead require every store to take 15 seconds to fix, which when you multiply that across thousands of stores, that is a huge amount of time that could be saved! I would say that as a result of working for Target I have realized how important it is to act as a team, not just with those whom you directly work with, but also for those team members on the ground that you may not be interacting with directly but are the face of the company.

There are a few things that played a role in this realization. During an intern wide Zoom, we were placed in break out rooms with other interns, and not just HQ interns but store interns as well. When I shared with the group that I was placed with, about my project and specifically how it is about why store team members must change capacities so often, one of the store interns lit up. She told me that she had been hearing a lot about what a pain it was to have to update the capacities for items so often and that she could see my project having a large impact. I was genuinely so excited when I heard this. I was going to get to have an impact.

The biggest event that played a role in my realization however, was actually getting to go to the stores and talk with the team members there. When they showed me the amount of things they have to do, and the time they take to fix mistakes made at HQ, I was shocked. In one instance, they showed my a planogram that depicted items that should be hanging off of hooks. But when we looked at the items they were boxes without any sort of hanging “tab” to slide onto a hook. So instead the team members inserted a whole shelf that was not initially there to work around the issue. In another example, I went through the process of submitting a help request to HQ from the store. The process for one issue took me about 15 minutes to submit to HQ, and was not at all enjoyable or obvious. It made me realize the weight of a store submitting a help request like this, because it must mean something is really wrong for them to go through this effort. My empathy for store team members shot up through this experience.

When I returned to HQ I spent time meeting with various individuals in and outside SPT, telling them what I learned, hearing about their roles and identifying ways in which we could all make differences in our routine, to help alleviate the workload for store teams. In general I was pleasantly surprised by how interested people were and how much they wanted to help. It made me realize that the disconnect felt between HQ and stores maybe has more to do with HQ not knowing there is an issue, rather than them not wanting to fix it.

Finally, when I got to present my findings to my team and even to individuals outside of SPT, I felt excited about the impact I could have across the nation with my suggestions. People were invested and excited about my work as well. The research that I did is getting passed on to another individual who will work to continue what I started and bring my recommendations to fruition.

I feel that the value of understanding the importance of helping all of those around us, even in a company, can never be understated. I remember a conversation I had at the company I worked for previously. I was speaking with the HR representative for the distribution centers in her region. She told me about how she had been offered promotion time after time, again and again. But she never took them. Why? Because she cared too much about the people she represented. She cares so much about those working at the DCs having proper access to HR resources and representing their needs at headquarters, that she did not trust anyone else to do that job properly. I still think about the passion she had for her job to this day. And I feel proud that I could’ve embodied a portion of that this summer at Target. In the future, I will always remember that I have the ability to raise others, and their voices, up.

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 project involved developing algorithms to analyze data of local field potentials and accelerometer movement in MATLAB for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), occasionally assisting with data collection in the operating room. I also attended weekly seminars on career-building topics to supplement my professional journey, presenting a final research poster at the program symposium.

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.

Before my STEP Signature Project, I was concerned that Biomedical Engineering may not be the correct path for me. This is because I was uncertain that I could make a meaningful difference that felt impactful unless I was caring for a patient as a physician. I had previously ascertained research to be much more solitary and isolated from the people it impacts. However, throughout my internship, I was able to interact with patients who received this life-changing treatment and ask them how it has affected their quality of life firsthand. My assumptions about research being confined to a desk or wet lab were transformed as I witnessed the collaborative nature of this aspect of Biomedical Engineering along with patient interactions.

I have realized that I can make a meaningful impact as a Biomedical Engineering without necessarily becoming a physician through this experience, while still prioritizing a patient-first mindset. Through this program, I garnered an appreciation for all aspects of Biomedical Engineering as academia, industry, and medicine are collectively optimized to treat even a single patient. I have also transformed in that I have confidence in my ability to make a difference in these spaces.

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

One specific activity that influenced my transformation of thought was my involvement in the operating room during DBS data collection. Observing the role of research within the OR and interacting with medical device representatives, surgeons, and medical students provided real-world context to data and figures I would receive in a regular Biomedical Engineering course. The collaboration of all these individuals allowed the process to be beneficial to the patient, and speaking with these professionals highlighted how every role directly affects the life of the patient.

Another significant experience was developing and presenting my research poster. Collecting all of the data I had worked on for two months, along with findings and significant statistics was a challenging and interesting task that I particularly enjoyed. Presenting this information in such a way that people of various backgrounds can understand and contribute to the scientific conversation taught me the value of effective communication and conversation. I had a few conversations during the symposium that allowed me to prove to myself and others that, although I was only in the lab for a short time, I could intellectualize and improve upon the ideas I had presented, while remaining flexible to outside input. This increased my confidence in my academic prowess and curious mind.

Finally, I am extremely grateful for the mentorship and guidance from my supervisors and peers. Through their unwavering support, feedback, and encouragement, I was encouraged to believe more in my own cognitive and decision-making abilities. These people emphasized the importance of a professional network and growing connections within many professional spaces, as well as the diverse ideas and perspectives that accompany these connections.

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

This transformational experience has given me invaluable insight into my future academic and career trajectory. Although I do not see myself entering into full-time research at present, it has assuaged my fears that a career in industry will not provide me with the profound purpose I am looking for in changing patient’s lives. This experience has further encouraged me to seek out roles in medical device development, as is supported by my recent acceptance into the Medical Product Development program at Ohio State University. It has also reinforced my commitment to improving patient quality of life through engineering solutions.

Personally, the increase in my confidence and interpersonal skills will serve me well in the professional world of networking. Through this certainty in myself and my value in engineering spaces, I will be able to vocalize my ideas and opinions in intimidating and potentially male-dominated spaces. This research internship has underscored my values to be a lifelong learner and my desire to have adaptability in my career. These developments will equip me to navigate a career in which I can make a positive impact on patient lives.

My STEP signature project was an internship at the Wilce Student Health Center. I was a physical therapy student assistant, and my main activities included administrative tasks such as scheduling and answering phone calls, cleaning equipment, and checking patients into their appointment.

Through completing my STEP signature project my understanding regarding myself and future career was transformed. I learned a lot about the field of physical therapy and patient care. As I am applying to physical therapy school this internship gives me an edge and learning experience that I will be able to apply in physical therapy school and as a future physical therapist. I was able to see the different types of patients and different types of interactions physical therapists have with their patients. I also was exposed to a lot of different rehab therapies including manual therapy, deep tissue massages, electric stim machines, ultrasounds, and more. This experience transformed my outlook on my future career by exposing me to many aspects of it and confirming that I want to work in the field of physical therapy. 

One key aspect of my experience within my STEP project was the relationships I formed with the physical therapists at the Wilce. I worked with three different physical therapists and a sports medicine physician within my internship. These relationships are important to me as they enabled me to form connections and network with people who have gone through physical therapy school and who are involved within the field. This allowed me to learn a lot about the field and the different experiences they each had. In addition I was able to see three different physical therapists style and approach to physical therapy which taught me the individuality within different therapists. 

Secondly, my interactions with patients was also an important aspect within my project. I was able to work directly with patients for the first time which gave me exposure to patient care. I was able to learn how to deal with different patients and the administrative side of physical therapy. I worked with patients to check them into their appointment, schedule their next one, and aid the physical therapists in things such as demonstrating exercises and stretching the patients. 

Lastly, the activities I did during my STEP project also played a key role in my transformation. During my internship I participated in different events and activities including a staff event at Ohio Stadium that celebrated the staff involved in student life at OSU. This was a cool experience as I got to connect with many staff members involved in different aspects of OSU. Other activities I participated in were in service where other staff members from the Wilce were taught about different aspects of physical therapy that they can apply into their care including crutch, cane, boot, and brace usage. I was used as a participant for the physical therapists to demonstrate these rehab tools. Both of these activities were beneficial to me as they showed me different aspects of physical therapy. 

This transformational experience is valuable for my life because it exposed me to many aspects of the career I am pursuing. It allowed me to observe direct patient care, develop relationships with providers, complete administrative tasks, and attend events to further my knowledge of the field. This experience also provided me with the knowledge of what my future career will look like and it gave me exposure to the challenges I may face. This change is important to me because it confirmed my interest in the field of physical therapy and gives me confidence that I am pursuing the right career.