For modern college students, the internship experience during the collegiate years is invaluable to both the student and future employers. In my generation, an internship is viewed as a necessary supplement to college courses because of the knowledge and worldly experience gained from it. The opportunity to use the skills we are taught in an internship during college is a privilege, especially as the job market is declining.
This past summer, I was allowed the privilege to join the Summer Institute at the Strategy Group LLC. As I joined mid-summer, the group of four other college students ranging from sophomores to seniors had already begun the interactive training focused on strategic marketing and branding. As with any new job or major life change, it was an adjustment to learn the processes and expectations of my new role. I quickly learned the most beneficial contribution an individual could make to the group was an idea.
Each individual’s thoughts and ideas brought greater collaboration to the group and allowed the five of us, called “The Summer Institute team,” to progress toward creatively and efficiently completing projects. Through the Summer Institute, I was able to grasp the full power of collaboration. Through my sophomore year in college, I was the quiet student in classroom discussions, either waiting for what I deemed the perfect moment to add my comment—which I rehearsed ad nauseam in my head—or simply sitting and soaking up the comments made by my peers.
During my first few meetings at the Institute, I took the approach of the “quiet student” while my four peers pitched ideas and vocalized their thoughts. I saw the group progress and move forward through one idea given by an individual that was built upon and used as the foundation for a complex idea. I found that vocalizing thoughts was the most efficient way to collaborate and progress towards a finished product.
Successful collaboration of a group hinges upon both active participation of individuals involved and an encouraging environment. At the Summer Institute, each individual brought a different skill set and personality to the group, which was appreciated by each member through encouragement and willingness to listen to each other’s ideas. Had we not encouraged each other to voice our own ideas and personality, I believe the unique perspectives and potential ideas would not have been expressed in the final draft of our projects.
The positive environment provided by the entire group allowed me to break the mold of the “quiet student.” I began to voice the ideas I had previously kept to myself and felt a catharsis as each of my peers added their own comments and we saw all of our thoughts take the shape of a complex and well-thought idea. Vocalized comments from each of us brought a new perspective on ideas and allowed the group to look at tasks from many different angles.
The challenge I give to myself moving forward is to continue collaborating in all aspects of my life, including this fall semester of school. Now that I have seen and participated in successful collaboration, I want to keep my profile as a quiet student in the past. I also know that, moving forward, the lessons and tasks we were exposed to over the summer will give me a deeper understanding for the real-world use of the skills I will learn in my remaining college courses.
I would like to add a “thank you” to all of the members of the group, including the Strategy Group employees and owners for letting me share in an experience that has certainly furthered my personal growth and helped me realize the potential of my own skill set.
—Kelly Gebert, junior, DePauw
