Throughout my internship at Indium Corporation, I’ve started thinking about my plans for the future and, considering I’m graduating in December, adulthood is approaching a lot quicker than I’d like it to. Although being stressed out about the future is inevitable, Indium Corporation has given me skills that will guide me in my transition from a college student to a member of the workforce.

During my junior year at Le Moyne College, I never realized how stressful it can be to figure out what to do after college. I’ve always known I was going to graduate early, but I never wanted to think about it because Le Moyne is my home, and I can’t imagine what it’ll be like to not be on campus anymore. I’ve watched other people graduate from college and go on to pursue a Master’s degree immediately, or take a year off before immersing themselves in the workforce. Ideally for me, I would like to find a job not too long after graduating from school, but it doesn’t happen that easily for everyone.

Obviously my parents aren’t going to pack up my stuff and move me out immediately after I graduate (I hope), but I’d like to be able to live on my own not long after leaving school; which would require figuring out where I want to live, and getting a job first. Thanks to Indium Corporation, I am a lot more prepared to dive into the world of real adulthood after graduating from college.

The past 8 weeks here have been like no previous internship I’ve ever had. I am not constantly being watched to make sure I’m doing every little thing right. My supervisor trusts me with the work she assigns me, and knows I’ll put in my best effort. Even if I do make mistakes, she helps me learn what to do to correct them, and knows it’s not the end of the world. Because I have the chance to work on projects alone, I have been able to learn a lot more about Indium Corporation’s style requirements, which gives me the opportunity to produce higher quality work with less help from my supervisor. In a real-world job, you are not going to be watched 24/7 to make sure you do your work correctly, and Indium Corporation has definitely helped me become prepared for this.

Indium Corporation has also given me and the other interns, professional training that not everyone gets to experience. For example, we had the ability to sit in a training session led by Diana Wolgemuth from Dale Carnegie, which is a highly recognized training organization. Being a part of these sessions is something the interns can put on our resumes that make us stand out in a crowd.

This internship has made me understand that obtaining a job is not based solely on your education and work experience, but also on your training and your ability to network, as well. Although you might not have your future all planned out, take the opportunities you are given to attend training sessions, and step out of your comfort zone to talk to professionals in your desired field of work. These are things that will make people remember you, build you resume, and help you obtain your dream job.