What has been one of your biggest challenges as an intern so far, and how are you meeting those challenges?

by Mabel Shiu

First Hurdle
The first challenge I encountered this summer was the adjustment from my flexible schedule at IU to an 8:00am-5:00pm workday. I had to discipline myself to get to bed at a reasonable hour since I had to be up and ready to work on my project, attend meetings, and network for eight hours instead of the one to two hours of class I was accustomed to. Bringing light snacks with me to work, and drinking a fair share of black coffee or green tea helped me stay alert and productive. Also, I discovered that having a change in scenery was refreshing for me, such as bringing my laptop outside on the patio to work.

Communicating
Another challenge I face this summer is clearly understanding what is expected of me and, from there, finding opportunities to go above and beyond. Although my manager and I filled out an expectations sheet provided by Cardinal Health during my first week, there were still deadlines and details that needed clarification. This challenge was magnified since I was still adjusting to my manager’s hands-off management style. For instance, I grew anxious about how often I should touch-base with my manager. Not until I worked up the courage to ask about his expectations in regards to checking-in, deadlines, etc., did I feel confident in my progress. I learned to be proactive in communicating; whether it’s clarifying expectations or asking for more work.

* The views expressed in this blog post are those of an intern and does not necessarily represent Cardinal Health.