This summer I had my third internship at Turner Construction, this time in Los Angeles. Being able to intern in LA was great since I got to stay in my apartment from the school year and get a real taste of what post-grad work will be like. It was nice not having to worry about finding summer housing and instead being able to focus on the job from day one.
I have interned at Turner since the summer after my first year of college. I have enjoyed the work environment where they prioritize safety and employee wellbeing. This summer I worked on a data center renovation project. The specifics of the project are confidential, but I managed the finish trades: drywall, flooring, paint, and doors. Managing multiple trades at once meant coordinating schedules so one trade wasn’t held up waiting on another, which was a good lesson in how much planning goes into even the smaller pieces of a project. I found it was helpful in expanding my technical skills and being able to take the reins and have ownership over the trades I managed.
I also got to help with Lean project coordination this summer, which was one of my favorite parts of the internship. Getting to see firsthand how Lean scheduling cuts down on wasted time and keeps trades from stepping on each other was cool, and it’s something I can take back into my school work to be more efficient, whether that’s group projects or just how I plan out my own workload.
Outside of work, I traveled back to Oregon for the Fourth of July. I enjoy being home during this time of year since everyone is celebrating and I got to see my hometown friends. I went to the Mt. Angel parade and the St. Paul Rodeo, which are traditions from my childhood, and got to watch the Model T pig races, which is always a highlight and something I look forward to every year.
I also went to Pittsburgh for the first time this summer to visit a college friend. I had never been to Pennsylvania before, so it was fun to explore a new city, meet my friend’s family, ride the incline, and try pierogies for the first time. Getting to see a completely different part of the country and experience a new city through a friend’s perspective was a great way to spend part of the summer.
Between the internship and the traveling, this summer gave me a good mix of gaining hands-on experience in my field and spending time with the people who matter to me.
