The twelve weeks I spent living in Portland, Oregon for my internship at Intel was a pleasant surprise to say the least. I went into the summer, knowing very little about technology, and entirely convinced I was going to bored out of my mind in the tech finance field. I saw the internship as simply a solid addition to my resume, that would help me land a post-grad job in the fall. Luckily, that was not all those twelve weeks turned out to be. My internship at Intel turned out to be three things:
1) A Lesson in Post-Grad Careers - Throughout the summer I was challenged with conducting my intern project for the Data Center Group. I worked closely with my supervisor, and had assistance from other full-time employees. However, my project was entirely my responsibility. I was tasked with forecasting the sales for a primary product by leveraging supply chain inputs, and I had no idea where to begin. But it was not too long until I began to get the hang of things. I knew how to set meetings with contacts and pitch my project in order to get data and their help. I knew that despite a lack of overwhelming praise, my supervisor was pleased with the work I was doing, and that he would let me know if I was not meeting expectations. I knew that by the end of the summer, I would have a final recommendation that could be used by Intel in the future. I learned that sometimes you have to sit in the unknown and keep following different leads. I also learned that I was capable of far more than I imagined.
2) A Test of My Independence - At this point in my life, the longest I had been away from Seattle was the month and a half study abroad in Rome the previous summer. Rome was exciting, fast-paced, and I had little time to stop and think. My internship was much different. I didn't go into the summer with any friends in Portland, and I did not realize how much spare time I would have, despite my forty hour work week. The change of pace from my normal life, where I live in close proximity to many friends, made the transition somewhat lonely. Despite this, I am proud of how I responded. I proved to myself I could live in a new city, make friends, and develop a routine. Exploring a new city on my own was surprisingly liberating.
3) The Launch Point for My Future Career - Finally, to my surprise, the twelve weeks of my internship will not be entirety of my time at Intel. On the last day of my internship, I was offered the opportunity to return after graduation as a full-time financial analyst. As I mentioned before, this is not at all how I expected to start my career. However, I am excited to return to a company I enjoyed working for very much, and the opportunity to live in a new city is an adventure I am excited to embark on.
