Vanessa's December Week 3 Reflection
Reflecting on your job performance, what factors (e.g., environment, intrinsic motivation) contribute to your productivity? Please briefly explain how so.
Certain factors that contribute to my productivity are the environment that I am working in. Firstly, the environment that I put myself in in terms of workspace. I always strive to find somewhere quiet to work so that I can always be productive during my shifts. Even with some noise at times, I always ensure that I have headphones near so that I can tune out the extra sound from my environment. As well as finding somewhere that is well-lit and a good desk area for me to have all my necessary materials around. Secondly, the environment that the company provides. The environment that my supervisors and co-workers have provided has certainly affected my job performance positively as I am always inspired by them and learn from their actions. Environment plays a big part in the position you are in and the environment that U+ Education has given me has resulted in me always putting my best foot forward.
Interviewees often ask the interviewer about the company culture during interviews. Reflecting on your placement experience at U+, how would you describe the U+ company culture?
Reflecting on my placement and experience, I would describe the U+ company culture to be hardworking in the sense that everyone works together to pull everything together. Everyone has to be hardworking in pulling their weight to make projects and tasks happen. As well as I would say that U+ as a company is very positive in the sense that on the first day of joining U+ Education, I was welcomed with a warm welcome by my fellow supervisors and co-workers. This made for a very inclusive environment and always made me feel like I belonged as a co-op student. This has shown me the inclusive, positive, and hardworking side that U+ Education has to offer.
What are two things you are grateful for that is related to your placement? (E.g., an opportunity to work on a certain project, making new friends)
Two things that I am grateful for that I received from my co-op placement is that I have made new friends. It is always nice to have those that inspire my work and keep me going. Since U+ has many co-op students working at once. All of my co-workers have made for a very welcoming and enjoyable experience. My co-workers are in the same position as me in the sense that we are working as co-op students. They have always made it so that if I ever had any questions about a task or needed advice on a project I was working on, they always allowed me to ask for their feedback and I know I would do the same for them. Another aspect of my placement that I am grateful for would be that I have gained valuable experience in many different ways. I have gotten the opportunity to work with various resources and sites that I have not worked with before. This will help me in the future as I will be skilled for those various sites. These are just a few of the skills that I have acquired over my placement though I have acquired many more that all lead me to grow as a student and person.
Our sister organization YRES has a mascot called Nova, a big horned sheep. There are no other details about her other than she always wears a red kerchief and that she is always ready for an adventure. What do you suppose is the backstory of Nova?
I suppose that Nova grew up always eager to learn and when she was learning, she gave herself that adventurous aspect. Nova wanted to share that aspect with those around her and always made it a mission to help those around her. As she guides those through YRES, they can experience the learning growth that she went through, and wanted to share her love for learning through many different programs. She always believes in inclusivity and wants everyone to learn in a fun and adventurous way. The fact that she has a red kerchief show represents the life she had learning every step of the way, love since she had all the love for learning new skills, and the color red in her kerchief gave her the courage to continue learning.
