An understanding of myself that transformed while completing my Signature Project was that I was able to adapt to remote work. I previously thought I worked best in in-person settings with real-world interactions and that lacking these could be challenging for me. Although I never met any of my colleagues in person, I was able to interact with them via Microsoft Teams meetings and frequent chats, which made me feel connected. I was also able to solidify my ability to work independently while staying aligned with my team’s values through frequent check-ins with my manager.

Additionally, my view of the world changed because I was exposed to a working environment that I had not been able to see as a student. It was valuable to see how what I have been learning in my classes translates into the real world. Seeing how my life could be post-grad was something I would not have experienced without this internship.

Furthermore, having frequent check-ins with my manager made me feel more connected to the organization, as I communicated personally with my boss. My manager ensured that I was doing well and understood everything I was being assigned. She also made it a point to let me know that I was doing a good job and encouraged me to keep up the good work, which I appreciated.

We also had team meetings through Microsoft Teams, where student interns and regular staff could ask questions if needed. These meetings served an educational purpose as our managers discussed any new updates in the medical coding and billing world and provided us with resources to refer to. Our managers would follow up the meetings with an email summarizing everything discussed, including answers to any questions that they might not have been able to answer immediately.

Moreover, connecting with other student interns made me feel more comfortable with remote work, as I felt I was still getting to know other young professionals. A group chat was created for all the interns, allowing us to get to know each other better. It was also helpful to bounce ideas or questions off each other to strengthen our understanding of office tasks.

Lastly, this experience is valuable for my life because it strengthened my ability to adapt to any situation, which is important in the professional world. My professional goals involve working in hospital administration, and many of these roles are remote. Having a remote internship with a hospital provided me with real-world experience before graduating. My ability to successfully work remotely while still interacting with colleagues and feeling connected to the organization is something I gained from this internship that I will use post-grad.

My office space that I completed my remote internship at.