Community Fellows Blog Posts

As a data and information systems intern and a management information systems major, there have been numerous times when my university learning has directly affected the way I do my work, and even vice versa. I started this fellowship in my fall quarter, and when I entered the winter quarter, I realized that I was taking classes where, as I worked, I was essentially doing the same thing I had been doing at the City of San Jose, almost getting a head start of some sort. It has been motivating to see concepts from class show up in real situations, because it makes the work feel more real and the learning feel more useful and applicable. 

A lot of Management Information Systems is about business analysis and design, and a significant portion of my internship involves working on workflows, allowing me to apply what I’ve learned in business to real-life work situations. Especially it being government work, in some ways it is a lot more hectic, and you are more clear of the impact being made because you know that what you do is going to affect some citizen in some way. Because of that, there is a heavy sense of importance and responsibility, which seems like pressure but is also helping me grow as a person. It also makes me more careful about details, because small changes in a process can actually make things easier or harder for someone. 

There are additionally a lot of soft skills involved. I've gotten out of my shell compared to how I was in the fall quarter, and I can speak more professionally and casually at the same time. For example, I would have trouble with small talk with my supervisor and those I worked with, and I was overly professional but could not seem to make any meaningful connections. However, I have been able to start up genuine and sincere conversations with my coworkers and gain these soft skills, and I feel that this has carried over into my life at school as well. I can talk to professors better, interviewers better, and just be overall a more open and fun person while maintaining the important professional behavior I must have. 

So far, this internship has helped me connect what I’m learning to real responsibilities, and it’s shown me how everyday work can make a real difference. Even though I’m only halfway through, I’ve gained stronger technical skills, better communication, and a much clearer sense of the kind of work I want to do in my life going forward.

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