After almost 2 months in Ohio at my NODA internship, there are a few things that I have learned from the experience, or at least entered into my own path of self discovery. And while I debrief, and get ready for a Texas roadtrip and a new adventure to begin, my nostalgia provoked the below list of ‘Lessons Learned.’ Thank you to everyone at BW (and beyond) who made this such an amazing learning experience.
- Make the most out of your experience, and love what you do.
- Enjoy the people you work with
- Get to know people outside of your office
- You never know what moments will ‘stick’
- Be enthusiastic about your work ‘YEAAAH,’ and acknowledge your mistakes ‘SHOOOT’ (@A_Orchard)
- Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions.
- Embrace ‘nicknames’
- Take breaks for FUN; even when working seems like the best option.
- Take advantage of every minute; it goes by too quickly.
- Be flexible
- Sometimes a dance party solves just about anything.
- Don’t forget about the people who helped get you where you are.
- Roll your sleeves up and don’t be afraid to get dirty.
- Make to-do lists. Write down feedback; follow them, and use it.
- Give praise sincerely, openly, & honestly.
- Be open to becoming ‘part of the family’
- Go somewhere alone, and be comfortable with it.
- A jump in blood sugar can make you loopy by 2:30
- Join ‘team wellness’ and get a buddy to keep you on point. (@Kathy_Petras)
- Bring a quarter when you grocery shop at Aldi.
- Mad Gab will give you plenty of laughs
- Postcards make great ‘souvenirs’ when you’re low on cash.
- Troubleshoot.
- Teach college students to question everything; nothing may be as it seems…1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (@BWMarcWest)
- Know your audience, and work it to your advantage
- Talk about your weaknesses; show them. Adapt to them.
- Skype won’t save relationships, but it will certainly make loved ones feel closer.
- You can work on 20 things, but you can only do 1 well at a time.
- Make the position your own, when the position/situation allows.
- Laugh.
- Take initiative and go the extra mile.
- Ask questions and be genuinely interested in the answers.
- Try to find something new in everything you do; you don’t gain anything by acting like you already know.
- Turn a ‘heckler’ into an ‘educational moment’
- Reach out and be an advocate.
- Get to know someones ‘bigger picture.’
- ‘Tweet-up.’
- Netflix is fantastic. Or an addiction. Or both.
- Tweeting, cheese & and little kindness go a long way. (@KARupert)
- Be open to the ‘other side’ of your strengths
- Do something you wouldn’t do anywhere else
- Eat a ‘Buckeye’ (they’re delicious)
- Don’t expect to always get it right the first time, but get closer the second time.
- Set goals and measure your progress.
- Don’t panic about the unknown; it’s never as scary once it becomes reality, just allows opportunities for adjustment.
- Identify what your weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to talk to them.
- Support and be supported; motivate those around you.
- Find the passion of those around you; the more quickly you can identify what makes those around you tick, the more effective a team member you can become.
- Ask the why or how; do your work on the ‘purpose’ or anticipated goal, not just instructions.
- Explore; step out and learn about what’s around you. The more information you know, the more well-rounded and resourceful you become.
- Have a plan (or a GPS). Seek out the resources around you, and know when you need help.
- Be flexible; you never know when a 12-hour drive will become a night in a motel and a morning in a auto body shop; panic doesn’t breed results.
- Most goodbyes should be ‘see you later’s’
- There is Christmas in July, you just have to know where to look
- Baldwin-Wallace Colleges’ Summer Orientation Program 2010 is both an extended ‘Student Affairs family,’ and a place I’ll always be able to call home.
- Update to 56. You can survive several road trips with a good travel buddy (@LaurenBuckley3) (So thankful; check & check!)
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