As a Resident Assistant, I've developed a diverse set of skills that are invaluable for both personal and professional growth. In this role, Ive learned to plan and execute engaging events that foster community among residents. I guide students towards success by recommending clubs, offering tutoring, and providing mental health resources. Being on call 24/7 has taught me the importance of maintaining a calm, polite, and empathetic demeanor while addressing a variety of issues. I'm also accountable for scheduling regular check-ins with residents, which helps me proactively support their needs and ensure they stay on track academically. Through this experience, I've enhanced my leadership, conflict resolution, and communication skills. I've also developed strong interpersonal abilities, cultural competence, and problem-solving strategies. These experiences not only contribute to a supportive environment but also prepare me for future career paths where these skills will be essential.

I am honored to be entering my second year with Macro Magnetics, where I have had the privilege of growing both personally and professionally. I sought an internship that would challenge me and allow me to make a meaningful impact, rather than simply performing administrative tasks. Starting with quote sheets, I quickly gained confidence in the quoting process, which enabled me to balance my responsibilities while taking on new clients. By the end of July, I successfully onboarded four new clients who had never previously worked with Macro Magnetics, contributing over $100,000 in sales. I soon realized that keeping track of each client's information from memory was impractical. This led to constant communication with over 20 clients, where I managed RFQs and sent out POs regularly. This experience significantly improved my efficiency with Excel and enhanced my time management skills. Cold calls and emails were vital for this position. I learned how to navigate these conversations while maintaining proper etiquette. One of the most valuable lessons I gained from this role was the importance of not taking failures in door-to-door sales, cold calls, and emails personally; they are simply part of the job. Additionally, I had the invaluable opportunity to participate in three sales trips, where I honed my door-to-door sales techniques and engaged in meetings with existing customers. These experiences provided insights into how we can enhance our systems to better serve our clients. I am grateful for the support and mentorship I've received and for the time others have invested in helping me grow into the person I am today and the new knowledge I have gained.

Working at Macro Magnetics challenged me to gain a deeper understanding of effective customer service. This role required me to learn proper etiquette for emails and phone calls. Additionally, being responsible for communication between the floor and purchasing departments proved pivotal. Any lack of clarity in communication could potentially lead to a production halt. Thus, proactive and clear communication was paramount, as it helped prevent mistakes down the line. There were numerous instances where maintaining constant communication with suppliers helped get products in a timely manner. This job also provided valuable lessons in negotiation; I was trained in the 7 Habits by Macro Magnetics and see the importance of striking a balance between assertiveness and flexibility. Instead of engaging in prolonged arguments with suppliers, I discovered how useful it is to seek first to understand with the hope of finding mutually beneficial solutions.

I not only learned how to manage myself when under pressure, but also how to manage a team under stress and how to make everyone collaborate without friction. It's harder than you would expect, working at a coffee shop that's established like this. The number of customers that can come in all at once can go from calm and manageable to your team feeling overwhelmed in an instant. This gave me great practice on how to properly manage a team under stress, not allowing myself to show any emotions but instead always offering assistance and support. At my age, this was a great growth experience for me. Being exposed to all of this responsibility on my shoulders helped me become more comfortable under stress. The constant values that I always upheld were excellence in service, trying to give them exactly what they needed, and providing great customer service. I always had a smile on my face, making sure they felt acknowledged and welcomed. When issues arose, you constantly had to be able to pivot and improvise to fulfill whatever need was required.