Day 1: Internship on the Pacific

The typical first-day of an internship: Walk cautiously through the doors, meet your supervisor, get your picture taken, shake some hands, find the cafe, sit in your chair for the first time and pray it's ergonomic, and try to take in what will be your life for the next 10 weeks of the summer. Mine followed this trajectory to a t, until I heard the 3 words that made me feel more inadequate than any "You're too pale to be from California" or "Your face is much fatter than Justin's" ever could. My boss shook my hand, made small talk, then looked me in the eye and asked "Can you code?" Now, for those who are unfamiliar with the meaning of this inquiry, the question could also have been asked, "Can you add any value to our company, or will we be sticking you with research and data entry for the duration of your internship?" The short answer to his question? No. The long answer to his question? Nope. Am I being dramatic? Probably. I doubt that my lack of knowledge within Python or VBA renders me completely useless to my team. However, it was still frustrating that they expected me to come to the table with a skill that I wasn't even aware applied to the position. Do I know any other languages? Sure! Pig Latin, Spanish, Accounting, Twin, I know plenty of languages! Does that include C++, or Java, or SQL? Not so much. But if I've learned nothing in my short time on this Earth, it's that coming into a position with no background knowledge, but a relentless desire to learn, can often lead to tremendous personal and professional growth. Oh jeez, now I've gotten all "motivational speaker" on you.  

Overall, I couldn't be happier with how my summer has started. How can I complain, after all? My cubicle overlooks the Pacific Ocean. For my Midwest friends, that refers to the large body of water on the Western side of our country. Quite a spectacle. My housing situation includes a furry dog, a quaint room with pink covers, and a 5 minute walk to a nearly-private beach. I can't guarantee that I'll come back to campus tanned and toned, but I CAN guarantee that I will have seen enough people who fit this description that I'll return to campus more connected to my Southern Californian roots than ever. Though I joke, it really is good to be back in the homeland. Stay tuned for more on my adventures in Newport, and to my friend in South America reading this, adios. 

D