Jessica Baumann.

With only a few days left in my internship this summer, it’s important for me to look back and reflect on how I’ve grown during my time with McKinstry. My internship has taught me many different lessons—both work-related and life-related. This may seem a bit confusing to some of you, so let me explain.

This summer, I went from attending a small college (University of Wisconsin, Platteville) to living in a big city (Madison), where I lived on my own. This meant I was responsible for all my own cooking, cleaning, and—probably my most daunting chore—not having a dishwasher and doing the dishes by hand. During this summer, I got a real taste of what the adult world was like. I’ll be graduating in a few short years, and this was a helpful preview of what to expect down the road.

I didn’t just sit at a desk—I went to active jobsites and saw the real-life impact of McKinstry’s work. I saw how much goes into a job such as weekly meeting and making sure that everything ran smoothly between general contractors. I loved learning about different job roles at McKinstry, and that gave me ideas for what kind of career I’d like to pursue. Every position and every project is different.

This summer, I was very fortunate to have this opportunity at McKinstry’s Madison office. It’s interesting to think about how much can happen in three months, and my time here flew by before I knew it. Thinking back, I’m extremely thankful to have been a part of the B.L.U.E. Program. There are so many life skills I’ve taken away from my experience in the program, such as building a professional network and the importance of connecting with others in the work environment.

I’ll be heading back to school imminently, but I will not forget “The McKinstry Way” as I continue to grow my professional career.

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