Over the fall semester, I took on a 17 week internship with Walt Disney World. I was a part of the Strategy and Transformation team as a Workforce Management industrial engineer intern. I worked on the company’s staffing needs throughout the parks and resorts by creating systems and tools to optimize our workforce.

Throughout this project, I really grew and found myself. I was given the time and opportunity to reflect on myself and what I want for my future. My internship allowed me to experience what life would be like after I graduate and transition into full-time work. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering so the role is directly related to what I want to pursue in the future. I learned a lot about independence and understanding my needs away from my friends and family back at home. I created and grew new relationships with fellow interns from all over the world and learned so much from each other. My confidence and interpersonal skills grew throughout this project.

My internship required me to move to Orlando, FL for four months. The idea of it was daunting itself. Not returning to school for the fall semester and pursuing an internship while I was extremely excited, I was also very nervous about it. The experience of living in a different state and working full-time taught me a lot and helped build my sense of independence. In the beginning, it was difficult to figure out my schedule and balance as life not in college is so different from how you schedule your time while in college. I set goals and priorities for myself and kept myself accountable. I also got the chance to learn new skills such as cooking, baking, and crocheting during my time in Orlando. I used my time to also reflect on myself and figure out what I want to do in the future once I graduate and what I want rather than what I thought or was told I needed.

The work I did as an intern helped in challenging and strengthening my technical skills. I learned a lot during the internship and was able to have the opportunity to work on projects that interested me and would benefit the company. In addition, the projects that I worked on made direct impacts on the company and the processes in place. I was able to implement my tools immediately and see my results. I was also challenged when it came to learning new software along with the team and being one of the first members of the team to complete a project in it. Throughout my internship, I was also able to strengthen my interpersonal skills when working with my large team as well as other clients. I presented and pitched ideas multiple times throughout my internship and was able to learn and receive feedback to continue to grow from it.

During my project, I was able to make strong and meaningful relationships with the people around me. I was able to connect with my team I worked on and be able to learn a lot from them. The community also allowed me to network and connect with other people throughout the company and be able to share stories and advice. The company itself has many students on internship and college programs which allowed me to build friendships with students all over the world. The friendships that I made throughout my project really made the experience such a fun and fulfilling one.

This experience was very valuable in my growth as a person. I found my confidence and individuality through my time in Orlando. That is one of my main personal goals I set for myself, not being afraid of learning more about myself and expressing it. I spoke up for myself for what I wanted this internship to provide me. I gained so much technical experience that will continue to build my skills throughout my academic and professional career. The relationships I have made will continue to stay with me and help me to grow. I learned so much from others’ experiences and advice. This experience and the transformation that occurred were so valuable to me both personally and professionally.