Reflection

The summer internship is finally coming to an end and it is now time to do the one thing we all love to do; reflect on these last months and identify what we have learnt and how much growth there has been, around the waist and intellectually!! To merely say that I have “grown” over these last months would be an understatement without qualifying that claim with all the things I managed to accomplish!

Starting off as an eager student of business, ready to soak up the knowledge and get my hands dirty with paint, I have now managed a decent size business and ran a team of 9 employees, handled angry customers, satisfied customers, met deadlines, payed off my debt and began to understand what I really want to achieve from my business degree. Did I value and like this experience? Definitely. Is entrepreneurship for me? Maybe. Maybe not. I realized that although I love to get out there and meet new people, talk to them, lead a dynamic work force, entrepreneurship is a tough job and one that maybe I should keep for later on in life, once I have had more experience on the financial and administrative side of business, am comfortable with that and willing to leave it to others to handle that task!

What I take back most is the amazing network of fellow colleagues I made who are from every walk of life and I truly learnt from them as I understood that although I may be international, I did grow up with a lot more than they did and that while I look at the internship as a resume builder, for them it was real work that would help them earn a decent amount of cash to get through another year of university. This put things into perspective for me and helps me realize that I need to better utilize the opportunities that come my way the following school year!

Sink or Swim

Being an international student at the Business school for the undergrad program, finding an internship can be quite a daunting, troubling and frustrating experience as a sophomore, especially in such an economic climate where companies look to hire only full time or students with Junior standing. Add to that the fact that I’m international, questions regarding work authorization, sponsorship etc all come up that often discourages prospective employers from looking to hire prospective, strong and equally qualified international talent. Having said that, it is quite gratifying to know that as a sophomore I do have some sort of job lined up for the summer ahead in these tough times.

Being the Franchise Manager for College Pro painters has for sure been one of the most defining experiences of my life here at the States. For most, internships star over the summer, for me, I have already begun working since January, attending training sessions in Ohio, Kalamazoo and East Lansing, and learning how to run my own business. I view this job, if I may call it, as an opportunity to discover what my passion is and where do my interests for business really lie. I might end up realizing that running my own business is not my thing, but perhaps the financial and accounting part of it is!

So to say that I have learned a lot would be an understatement. Having grown up in Dubai in a closed pampered environment, I have been forced to push past my comfort zone and actually try living the "real world" experience that some crave for while others are a little nervous about it.

I am confident that by the end of my summer, I would have accumulated a vast base for experience in dealing with people, managing my finances and being an entrepreneur. I am sure to be light years ahead of most of my peers. For this I am grateful!