My STEP Signature Project consisted of working a part-time internship at Ladybird, a local high-end boutique over the summer. My internship exposed me to decisions made behind-the-scenes that are crucial to running a small business beyond just generating sales. Additional responsibilities included inventory management, visual merchandising, and social media coordination.

My perception of operating a business deeply transformed over the course of my internship at Ladybird. I learned that entrepreneurship requires versatility as one must wear multiple hats and support all areas of a business. Before I began working this summer, I understood that large corporations utilize cross functional teams to contribute to their organizational goals, but it wasn’t until I had a hand in each function necessary to conduct a small business that I valued the individual parts that make up a whole successful operation. For example, as a future merchant or buyer, I previously never would expect to care so much about maintaining a meticulous and updated inventory, though in the past few months I’ve learned the importance of knowing the merchandise quantities carried and at what price they’re being sold for. On the day of a storewide seasonal sale, a client came in search of a blouse they’d seen marked down on the store website. My coworkers first assisting the client were unable to find the piece on the salesfloor but having taken down the discounts and inventory levels the night before, I knew exactly where the top was and located it for the client. Without this knowledge, my team would have missed out on a valuable sale opportunity. When I approach my first corporate position, I plan to acknowledge and appreciate the teams who assist in achieving goals of mine because all roles are imperative, no matter how small, to reach success.

The mentorship I’ve experienced with store owner Allison, has greatly altered the way I make decisions and ask for help. As someone who can get stuck with indecision, honing in my instincts can be difficult when lost in overthinking the potential of my options. Styling is a skill Allison has mastered, and I’ve spent much of my internship observing the way she pairs merchandise together. Allison listens to her gut while leaning into trends. A question she poses to me, “is that really what she’s wearing?” prompts me to quickly and critically decide, yes or no, does this work and why? I’ll put myself on the spot now in moments of uncertainty and force out an explanation for my choice, which is a skill I intent to work on to sharpen my eye for decision making.

Though I felt like I learned something new every day on the job, one of the most poignant lessons I’ve cultivated from my relationship with Allison is to always ask, never assume. Allison advised me from the start that she has trouble verbalizing exactly what she’s looking for sometimes. As someone who strives to be one step ahead and please people, I tend to anticipate what someone will ask of me and assume how it should be done in an effort to be proactive. Many small mistakes, like packaging an online order incorrectly or accidently discounting a full priced item, could have been avoided had I asked my supervisor for specifics to fully grasp their instructions instead of acting without necessarily comprehending what’s asked of me. Once I began inquiring without fear of sounding redundant or being judged, I understood that it’s more rewarding to ask (sometimes repeatedly) and do it right the first time, a lesson that will stick with me going into my future career plans.

My role at Ladybird will contribute to my personal growth and career goals. Going to college has taught me how strongly I value community. My first two years felt isolating, and I fell ill with homesickness frequently. To find purpose, I began searching for likeminded others to connect with, despite the insecurities associated with putting oneself out to be perceived. Organizations I’ve found community in like group fitness, fashion production, and now my people at Ladybird, provide me with a sense of joy and fulfillment, feelings that make the human experience better.

Employment at Ladybird has provided me with a safe outlet to enhance my creative and analytical potential through my interactions with those around me. As an aspiring assistant merchant or buyer, the skills I’ve acquired will assist in my long-term success at a larger company. Since I understand the countless responsibilities in running an organization which I may encounter in my career down the line, I’m better equipped to collaborate, make decisions, and ask questions fearlessly.

This summer, I had the privilege to work as a Team Leader Intern with Ohio State’s First Year Experience department. The majority of my work included working with first-year students during their orientation programs as well as mentoring Peer Leaders, who are employees of the department. I worked closely with program coordinators to learn about the inner workings of higher education and student affairs, and to develop my skills as a leader and mentor.

When it comes to the transformational aspects of the internship, I learned a lot about myself and the career field of higher education. I was a Peer Leader last summer and applied for this position at the end of the fall semester, 2023. I had experienced what a piece of student affairs could look like, and the opportunity to work with students and professional staff alike made me excited to get another perspective on the career field. During the spring semester, I worked with pro staff to prepare for the summer and learned how to create lesson plans, mentorship activities, and how to manage group dynamics as an authority figure. I have always been a more passive and timid person, and this training forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and work to be more assertive even when it does not come naturally to me. For the majority of the month of May, we trained with Peer Leaders to get them prepared for the summer, which is where I did the majority of my lesson planning and presenting. I feel lucky to have created such close bonds with my mentees, with whom I could share my experience and advice. Over the span of June and July, I performed one-on-one meetings with my mentees to check in and to evaluate their performance and validate their experiences as campus employees. This gave me the opportunity to create close bonds with my mentees and to show them my appreciation and care for their work and for them as people.

Unfortunately, not the entire summer was positive in nature. There were a couple of moments during the internship where I got a look at not-so-great parts of higher ed, and how these moments affected team dynamics and trust amongst the team and with program coordinators. However, I am appreciative of these moments, as they gave me a more holistic view at what a career could look like. Not everything in a job can be good, but I got to see how the good and the bad work together and how conflicts are resolved within the department.

As a fourth year student, my mind has been hovering on the idea of graduate school and how I will eventually get there. As a first-generation student, I didn’t really have any experience to go off of when applying to my undergrad program, let alone a graduate program. Because I was working with staff within my department who all have very different graduate school experiences and perspectives to share, I was able to gather a lot of new knowledge about what graduate school can be and how I go about being there one day. I have decided after going through this internship that I will be attending grad school, however, I am not too sure if higher ed will specifically be what I pursue. There are a lot of factors that go into this decision, such as future pay, job availability, and the future of higher education as a whole. I will continue to work with my supervisors to explore options, but I am extremely lucky to have been able to explore just this microcosm of higher ed.

I did not come into college knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I went through my first three years exploring options and trying to find the things that would interest me, but the thought of ‘forever’ always scared me out of a decision. However, through this internship experience, I have learned that there doesn’t have to be a ‘forever’. Even after I graduate, I can continue to explore and find what is most right for me and my future. I know that I want to be a part of the lives of students and young people, and this experience got me just a little closer to that reality.

Even if my summer internship is over, I will continue working with First Year Experience throughout the fall semester to continue my professional development, further develop relationships with my mentees, learn more about graduate school, and get assistance with applications when the time comes. After three years, I finally feel more secure in my career choice and future life. This internship opportunity has shown me something that I have a passion for and for that I am so grateful. Additionally, the confidence and financial security that the STEP fellowship allowed me to have was a great benefit, as it allowed me to focus on my internship and save a good amount of the money I was making. I look forward to presenting my experience to current STEP students and showing them just a piece of what a STEP project can look like. PS. The first picture I’ve added is the two other interns I worked with for the summer, and the second is one of my orientation groups whom were posted for a social media takeover.

During this past summer, I moved to Nashville to pursue a sales internship in one of the fastest growing cities in the US. What I did for this internship was basically a door to door sales job but rather I would receive a zip code with new houses in the area of people that just moved in and throughout the day I would work this zip code and work with people at these houses to sell pest control to those who needed it. 

My understanding of myself and the world around me was completely changed with this experience. From the first day that I arrived and was moving my stuff into this house in this new city that I had never been too before, in a house full of guys I’d never met before, it was quite the humbling experience. I had to learn to be comfortable with myself and throughout that experience I found out who I am and what type of life I want to lead. This was something that I had never really put extraneous thought into before, so as I moved through the summer it became more and more real to me that this life and living in a new city is so fragile, and that everyone else is making it up every day just as much as I am!

The other huge thing that happened to me during this experience was my view of the world. As I was doing this job I engaged in conversation with a variety of different characters and had to learn how to read people on a 4-5 second basis. This really changed my view on how people are in the comfort of their home and their true character that comes out when they are there. I realized that the majority of people are very laid back and reclusive and open to conversation, which came to my surprise as I assumed every house I would go up to I would be chased off the property when I first started!

There were multiple events throughout the summer that led to my transformation I previously mentioned. I’ll start with my job. For most of my life if I wasn’t good at something quickly I would just give up on it and forget about it, but with this job I couldn’t. It was the whole reason I had moved to Nashville and my main source of money so I really had to struggle with it for about a whole month before I finally got the swing of it. It took me getting out of my comfort zone and asking for help which I hate to do a lot of the time but this all played into my character growth throughout the summer. And wouldn’t you know it, I went back out with my boss and shadowed him throughout the day and picked up some of the tactics that he used, and I went from 5 sales a month in June to 30 sales in the month of July! 

This was a huge step forward for me and my internal personal growth as well because getting rejected for 7 hours a day on the road in a foreign area that I had never been in is an experience that truly wears on your mental health and sanity to a certain extent. I would wake up some mornings and dread going to my job knowing that I would probably be rejected, but this was my exact problem, this was the exact thing I had to fix in order to switch the whole thing around. I had to switch my mindset completely to focus only on the positives of the job, and then therefore use that mindset for everything in my life. I realized that if I am grateful for all the things around me everyday and be grateful for the ability to wake up and pursue a goal and have a drive and a purpose at all times. 

The other huge part of this trip that helped me grow as a person was my own personal life. For the first time in my life I had to start completely from scratch in terms of social circles, lifestyle and how I really wanted to go about my life in this new city for the next three months. So as I started my internship I made it a point to go out of my way to meet new people and formulate new friendships. This part came easy to me, what didn’t come so easy was the lonely weeks and nights that naturally came with being in a new area where you know nobody. I have always struggled with my identity and being confident in myself as a person, and being comfortable with myself by myself. So I figured it out, I figured out how to entertain myself and enjoy my own company and it worked out for the best! I can confidently say that this summer changed me for the better both professionally and personally and I couldn’t be thankful enough for this experience. 

These changes I went through are valuable for my life because I became much more self reliant in both the workplace and on a personal level. Both are important to have a balanced life, especially in today’s day and age. I believe this experience professionally showed my transformation as a salesman as I was dealing with people on a daily basis face to face, and never mind them being random people that I was expected to turn into loyal and valuable customers. Personally I believe my growth in character helped me achieve a goal I had been wanting to be better at for a long time which was to be more self reliant and not worry about things I can’t control. Thanks to this experience I have that and more!

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 my Summer Internship at JP Morgan Chase & Co as a Software Engineer. I was a Full Stack Web Developer and mainly worked with React, Sprint Boot, and AWS Cloud. My project involved my team and I to make a web application to help with a current application at Chase.

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.

In classes you will learn a lot, however, getting the opportunity to apply knowledge from my classes transformed what I thought about CSE and coding. In the CSE Classes at OSU, we tend to work with languages such as C, Java, HTML, SQL, Python, etc. However, in the real world, many Full Stack Developers use React, Spring Boot, and AWS Cloud. In the Industry, many developers apply Agile practices and it was interesting to work using that methodology and compare it to group coding projects in school.

As for myself, I grew as a web developer throughout the summer. I had never worked with React and APIs before but got to work directly with both and gain those skills. Aside from coding skills, I also grew as a person, improving upon my soft skills. Throughout the summer I learned how to be a better communicator and also asked multiple questions.

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.

I had an amazing support system during my 10 weeks at JP Morgan, from my manager to my Technical Partner, to the interns on my team, and lastly my SEP mentors. I worked at the Westerville Office, which is the smaller office and it allowed me and my team to get closer and we got to know each other quicker. The environment also made it easier for me to ask questions when I needed to. One of the many benefits to this was that I could also go work at the Polaris Office, so I developed connections at both offices via coffee chats.

Even though I worked at the Westerville Office and wasn’t at the main office with the rest of the Interns, there were multiple opportunities for me to get to know the other Interns. I enjoyed every event, however, my favorite ones were the Intern and Mentor Picnic and the game night we had at Scene 75. These events allowed me to meet other Interns and some Full Times in a more causal setting.

At Chase, there is a week called Global Innovation Week. This is an amazing week to learn about Chase and hear from leaders within the firm about what they think we might see in the future regarding technology, Artificial Intelligence and where the company is heading with those topics. At the end of that week, there was a Global Innovation Week Hackathon and, as an Intern I also had the opportunity to participate in the Hackathon. I worked alongside a group of 11 interns, and it was so much fun! I learned more about React and we developed a web application to help Chase employees form more meaningful connections and make a big office feel smaller. In the end, we ended up placing 9th place out of 60 teams consisting of both Interns and Full Time Employee.

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.

In college there are multiple topics we learn about in classes, however, this internship was valuable in connecting the topics covered in class and applying them to the real world. Before this internship I was quite unsure of what route  I wanted take with my Computer Science Degree, however, I always had an interest in Software Development. The internship made me realize that I wanted to work as a Full Stack Web Developer because it is a topic that will always evolve, and the visual aspect of web development is appealing to me. As I enter my Senior year of college, I am excited to apply the knowledge I gained from my internship to my classes. I, also, developed and continued growing my soft which I will take with me wherever I go.

For my STEP Signature Project, I completed an Upper Extremities Sales internship with Stryker Orthopaedics in Columbus, Ohio. I collaborated with the sales and logistics teams, engaged with doctors and nurses at hospitals throughout the area, and participated in networking events to acquire new clients and enhance my product knowledge.

During my STEP Signature Project, I developed a better understanding of the significance of maintaining a strong professional reputation and the value of effective networking. Working alongside intelligent individuals both at Stryker and in the hospitals, I witnessed firsthand how a positive professional reputation can open doors and foster trust with clients and colleagues. The interactions with healthcare professionals and the sales and logistics teams demonstrated how crucial it is to build and sustain meaningful relationships within the industry.

Additionally, I learned the impact of surrounding myself with hardworking and knowledgeable people. Observing their commitment and expertise inspired me to push my own work ethic and strive for excellence. This experience highlighted how collaboration and a shared commitment to high standards can drive personal and team success, reinforcing the idea that professional growth is interconnected with both the people I work with and the network I build. 

Several key experiences during my STEP Signature Project significantly contributed to my transformation. The first notable event was working directly in the operating room. My role involved guiding surgeons through the use of our products and the surgical procedures, which required me to have a deep understanding of our offerings. Building trust with the surgeon and the operating room team was crucial, and it highlighted the importance of thorough knowledge and reliability in maintaining professional credibility.

Another pivotal moment was organizing a product fair at The Ohio State University Medical Center. This event stands out because it demonstrated the trust and responsibility my team and supervisor placed in me. I was tasked with setting up the entire event, which involved coordinating and showcasing our products to surgeons and Ohio State Medical Center administration. This experience not only highlighted my team’s confidence in my abilities but also provided insight into how we interact with the hospital system as a client. It was a valuable lesson in understanding the broader context of our work and the importance of managing relationships within the healthcare environment.

Lastly, the TEACH event, where a Stryker-affiliated truck demonstrated our products with cadavers and provided hands-on simulation labs, was a critical experience for me. It allowed me to interact with the entire team and engage with potential clients in a personal environment. Seeing our products in action for the first time and witnessing the collaborative effort of our team emphasized the importance of teamwork and direct client interaction in growth and success. Each of these experiences contributed to my understanding of the significance of a strong professional reputation, effective networking, and the impact of working alongside dedicated team members.

This summer was one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling experiences of my life, and it has completely influenced my career aspirations. The experience significantly boosted my confidence as a professional, as I quickly demonstrated that I was a trustworthy and hardworking team member. By the end of my internship, I felt like an integral part of the team rather than just an intern. Building strong relationships with doctors, connecting personally with my team, and making a tangible impact on patients’ lives all contributed to this growth.

The combination of these elements not only reinforced my passion for medical sales but also aligned with my personal values. The chance to be in the operating room and to see the direct effects of our work on patient outcomes was incredibly rewarding. This transformation is significant because it has clarified my career path and inspired me to pursue a full-time role in this field. I am eager to return to a team where I have already established trust and rapport, and where I can continue contributing to meaningful advancements in healthcare.

This past summer, I completed a software engineering internship at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Throughout this 10-week experience, I was able to learn more about the firm’s culture, build strong professional relationships, and sharpen my technical skills.

One of the most impactful aspects of this internship was how I changed the way I view myself and my abilities. I began the internship thinking that I was not smart enough to be there, and I feared I might underperform and miss out on a return offer. However, as weeks went by, I gained confidence in myself and realized I am capable of much more than I initially thought.

A key factor that led to that change was the team I had the privilege to work with. From day one, every full-time employee on my team made me feel welcome. They consistently checked in on me, created a safe space for asking questions, and even invited me to join them for lunch every day. Their support and encouragement played a significant role in helping me build confidence.

Another key influence was my project manager, who not only shared a similar background-being close to my age, female, and a fellow graduate of The Ohio State University-but also served as an inspiring role model. Her guidance and relatability made a huge difference in my experience, showing me that I could succeed in this environment.

I was also challenged by the project I had the opportunity to work on. This project pushed me out of my comfort zone, requiring me to learn new technologies like React and solve complex problems. Each time I successfully completed a task, it strengthened my belief in my capabilities and helped me grow as a software engineer.

This change in how I view myself is invaluable because it has given me the confidence to take on challenges I once thought were beyond my reach. I am very proud to share that I received a return offer, and I am excited to take this newfound confidence forward as I continue growing both personally and professionally.

During this past summer, I recently completed an internship in Atlanta, Ga with a brokerage firm called Brown & Brown.  It was in their national casualty practice placing policies for large fortune 500 companies.  The internship entailed getting to know the renewal strategy process from start to finish along with getting interaction with clients on a daily basis.  This was amazing because I was able to meet very accomplished people in the profession.

This internship was a great transformative experience from all angles.  I got to experience a new city and explore different parts of the country which helped me gain a new perspective on it.  I learned so many different things about living alone as well that I will now have for the rest of my life going forward.  Along with this, I was able to gain so much industry knowledge that solidified that this is what I want to do after college, which took a lot of stress off my plate going into my last year of school.

The first activity happened before my internship even started, which was moving into my first apartment.  This was definitely a learning curve, but it helped me learn what is needed and how to take care of myself with cooking, cleaning, and working out while on my own.

Next, I was able to meet with high ranking executives which were so welcoming to talk in depth about what it is they did and what got them into the industry.  This may sound unimportant, but it was vital to deciding what I wanted to do.  They offered help whenever I needed it and said that their door was always open.

Finally, I completed an innovation project which is a competition for all interns.  I elected to do a project heavily focused on acquiring and maintaining clients through our CRM system.  Although it did not come in first, this project helped me gain so much knowledge that I can take with me going forward.

This transformation is significant to my life because I have accepted an offer letter from them to start working there after college.  This would not have been possible without STEP helping every “step” along the way.  Hopefully, this will be a start to a successful career.

1.My STEP Signature Project consisted of spending the summer in Washington DC through the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP). I completed an internship with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as took courses in public policy and government. My program also consisted of professional development workshops and guided study tours. 

2.While completing my project I gained a lot of insight both about myself, and the functions of government/public servants. A lot of my assumptions about the government were challenged because prior to this experience my main source of information came from the media. I learned that the government is much less dramatic and more bureaucratic than what is presented on the news. I was also able to glimpse into what my life could be like after graduation. I am greatly inspired to return to DC eventually and pursue a career in either journalism or public policy.

3.There were several aspects of the WAIP program that contributed to my growth. Every week we had panels consisting of professionals in various fields. Through these panels I was introduced to many career paths including government, nonprofits, development, contracting and campaigns. We were able to ask questions and learn about opportunities for young professionals hoping to enter those lines of work. I also was introduced to the game of networking. This was something I had no prior experience in because of my English writing background. I now have a better understanding of the importance and necessity of networking for securing a rewarding job in DC. I learned about informational interviews/coffee chats and now feel comfortable reaching out to people and having conversations about their careers.

Lastly, I gained valuable experience in the communications field through my internship. I learned about federal agencies and their role in governance. I now have a more comprehensive perspective about how to market my communications skills by identifying how my writing projects contribute to the overarching goals of the EEOC, (or any organization). 

4.

Participating inWAIP allowed me to explore and  evaluate options for my future career, which is incredibly valuable for my life. I now understand the process of applying for positions and proactive measures I can employ to make myself a strong candidate. I am aware of more career options, which is both inspiring and daunting. I’m very grateful for the skills I gained in networking, preparing resumes, interviewing and searching for job opportunities.

Throughout this past summer, I have been interning at Nexceris as my STEP Signature Project. Nexceris is a fuel cell and battery research and manufacturing company, with several business units and products focused on alternative energy production and storage. Throughout my internship, I have been able to be involved with several research and development projects, including the optimization of fuel cell manufacturing and component quality control.

My time at Nexceris has led to substantial growth in my technical confidence, as well as widened my view of my potential career paths as an engineer. Prior to this experience, I had only completed one other internship in a more traditional processing engineering setting, focused on project management. While this gave me valuable insight into that field and job prospect, my time at Nexceris has given me a completely different experience with research and hands-on laboratory work. This has required a different skillset, strengthening my abilities and challenging myself to grow into my role.

During my internship, I have been fortunate to have great coworkers and mentors to help me through my learning process. Everyone in my group and those I have interacted with have been willing to answer my questions, and have gone above and beyond by going into technical detail when necessary. When I started, another intern in my group who had been there since January was able to help me ease into my role by letting me shadow him for the first few weeks. As we both developed different skills during the summer, we were also able to help each other complete tasks, growing not only my technical confidence, but my professional communication skills as well.

By mainly completing hands-on lab work, I was definitely a little uncomfortable at first. As most of my previous lab work was in school, I was uneasy doing tasks that end with delivery to a customer rather than a professor. There were also many techniques and pieces of equipment not touched on in classes. However, with the support of coworkers, I was able to take on these challenges and learn many new skills. Now, I can more confidently navigate a lab environment and could more easily do so in my next internship or full-time job.

As Nexceris is a smaller company, it was easy for me to interact with many people across numerous roles. This has allowed me to see how people with many different backgrounds can complete similar tasks and projects, or people with similar education can do vastly different tasks. This includes within the field of engineering, where someone with a background and education in chemical engineering may incorporate materials science, mechanical, and chemical engineering concepts and skills all within a single project. I have come out of this experience with a greater appreciation for the flexibility of engineering and career fields in general, where professionals are not bound by a single idea of what our interests, background, and education can be.

As my first research and development role, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. It was always something I knew I wanted to get experience with, especially before graduating and deciding on what kind of role I would look for for a full-time position. Working in a role with unfamiliar aspects has pushed me to expand my skillset and increase my professional and technical confidence. Because of this experience, I now know much more about the career paths I can take, and specifically about sustainability fields, which I am particularly interested in. Going into next year, I can make more educated decisions on my next internship or full-time job, with the confidence that I can adapt and learn the required skills to succeed in a variety of environments.