Aryan's December Week 2 Reflection
Describe a challenge you have faced in a project thus far. How did you overcome it?
A challenge I faced in a project involved the budget for a youth mental health hub. The difficulty came from not knowing how to properly format the budget in a way that is most effective, as well as incorporating different formulas for each section, as the budget needed to account for various categories such as personal salaries, materials, capital expenditures, and more. To overcome this, I brainstormed and discussed with the accounting team of the different possibilities on how we can format the spreadsheet. Using trial and error, we finally found the optimal layout.
At U+, we advocate for lifelong learning and professional development through experiences. Describe a time where you were pushed out of your comfort zone during your placement and what you have learned from the experience.
During my placement at U+, I was pushed out of my comfort zone when I was asked to take on a leadership role for a project. Leading a team had always been an area I felt uncertain about, so stepping into this role was a significant challenge for me. When leading, I sent out daily meetings and tried to communicate as much as possible with the team. I learned that everyone has an important role to play on a team, and I now have experience being a leader. Another time I was slightly pushed outside my comfort zone, was when presenting in front of the business marketing team, during one of the weekly calls. It was a different experience, presenting in a work setting, but I developed new skills, and am now ready for the next presentation.
What application or website do you use the most on a regular basis during your shift (e.g., Slack, Google search engine, monday.com)? What do you use it for?
One application, I rely on is Google Meet for virtual meetings and team discussions, especially when since I work fully remotely. It’s an essential tool for connecting with coworkers, and supervisors to check-in, share updates, or brainstorm ideas. I also use Google Sheets for tasks like budgeting and managing data. For instance, I create ad update a lot of budgets and organize information (ex: Gary List). It’s helpful for collaboration since multiple team members can work on the same sheet at the same time, and it also allows for easy sharing and updating.
If you had to choose an animal (real or fictional) to describe your working style, what would it be and why?
If I had to choose an animal to describe my working style, I would choose a lion. Lions have a strong sense of leadership, focus, and determination. Like a lion, I try to approach tasks with courage, taking on challenges head-first and staying committed to the end goal. I also value teamwork, recognizing that collaboration and support from others are essential for success. Whether leading a project or tackling a difficult problem, I aim to be a confident worker.
