Zhenyan's December Reflection
As we approach the end of the term, what is one key takeaway from your experience as a whole/so far at U+/YRES? How will you integrate this into your life moving forward?
As the term comes to a close, one key takeaway from my experience at U+ has been the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone and actively seeking new opportunities. I’ve learned the importance of asking for roles or projects that inspire both professional and personal growth. For instance, by taking the initiative and expressing a willingness to learn, I gained valuable exposure to HR—an area I wouldn’t have had the chance to explore had I not taken the leap to ask for it.
Equally important has been the value of building strong connections with my coworkers. The relationships I’ve formed, especially with those I worked with during summer camp and the fall term, have greatly enriched my experience at U+. These friendships have made my time here not only more enjoyable but also more fulfilling.
Moving forward, I will continue to seek out new challenges, push myself beyond my comfort zone, and foster meaningful relationships with others. I believe these practices will not only support my professional growth but will also contribute to my personal development in the years to come.
Who was someone that made your experience at U+/YRES more memorable? Explain your choice.
During my work term at U+, there are numerous people who have made my experience both more memorable and more enjoyable. More recently, I really want to extend my gratitude towards Christina for always offering to help me with my work on my days off and being someone I can be silly with both during and outside of work. She is someone who reliably brightens my mood when the days get long and work gets tough.
I also want to give a special shoutout to those I became close with during the summer term. Even though they might not be working here anymore, I still value the bonds that were formed throughout the summer— especially during summer camp! I am glad that I was able to make workplace friends that became friends outside of work and it’s all thanks to this opportunity here at U+.
What is some advice/tips that you would offer to future staff?
One big advice I would give to future staff is to not beat yourself up to know everything about the company and its programs in the first couple weeks. There will be a learning curve that accompanies the first few onboarding weeks; however, once you get familiar with the SOPs, things will get smoother from there. Something you can do to support that learning curve is to take a detailed look at the handovers from previous cohorts, especially on projects that you are taking over the next term. There are some really helpful step-by-step instructions crafted meticulously by our team, insightful experiences, and useful tips for running certain programs. Another thing you can do is to form connections. Do not be afraid to reach out to your fellow team members as they likely may be struggling too and would love some comfort knowing someone else is going through the same things (at least in my experience).
If there was a yearbook for all employees at U+, what photo and quote would you choose to display as we approach the end of the year?
It’s about drive, it’s about power, we stay hungry, we devour.