Your summer experience gives you a glimpse into an industry and the daily work lives of people in this field.

Take advantage of all the opportunities you have to learn!

Your internship or volunteer opportunity will help you narrow down which academic or professional field you’re interested in, types of work cultures that engage and challenge you, and responsibilities you enjoy doing on the job.

Just as important to pay attention to are the tasks you don’t enjoy, the career paths that you aren’t drawn to, and knowing which workplace quirks you want to avoid in the future.

What have you learned so far?

Take some time to jot down your feelings and thoughts on the questions below. Feel free to discuss with your peers, a CCE counselor, or an alumni mentor.

  • How has your summer experience so far met, exceeded, or fallen short of your expectations?
  • What, if anything, has surprised you?
  • Is the work different from what you expected?  Do you have more/less than you expected?
  • Do you have a good understanding of how your role fits in with the organization’s priorities?
  • What expectations have you adjusted now that you’ve been in your internship for a few weeks?
  • Are there people you want to meet on staff but haven’t had a chance to yet? 

Take the time to assess how your expectations at the start of your experience differ from the reality of your day to day life in the role a few weeks in.

If the gap is bigger than you want it to be, it’s time to set gears into motion to try to get more of what you’d like by the end of the summer. Discuss with your manager about how to refocus on your summer goals. If you’re nervous about the conversation, reach out to CCE for advice.

The Art of Working Mindfully 

You may have finally figured out your optimal virtual workspace, the names of your coworkers, and how to communicate with your supervisor and team, but there’s more to learn to become a fully-fledged superstar intern or volunteer.

Look for opportunities — in regards to not only your projects, but also to the people around you, your supervisors, and the larger goals of the organization.

Consider how the projects you’re working on fit into the company’s objectives:

  • How can you do your work so that you are learning as much as possible from it?
  • How can you go above and beyond the project or task you’ve been given?
  • What is needed in the organization? Can you help the organization meet those needs to some extent?
  • What will make your team run more smoothly? Can you help make that happen?

Drawing connections between work and other areas of your life

Drawing connections between your internship/volunteer opportunity, your life at Columbia, and what you are studying in school allows you to find deeper meaning in your work.

We encourage you to think critically about all the ways your academic and professional life interact:   

  • Are there concepts you learned in class you’ve seen play out in your summer experience?
  • Do you see any connections in terms of the types of skills you’ve learned through school and what you’re doing at work?
  • What did your supervisor and colleagues study in college? 
  • What classes, specific assignments, student activities/clubs, papers or research have you completed that have helped you in your internship in some way?
  • What did your supervisor and work peers study in college?

Reflection is a continuous process

If you’re interested in continuing your reflective practices, check out our additional reflection tips.

Additionally, remember that you can always schedule an appointment with a career counselor to talk things out.