October Week 2 Reflection – Jaydon Huang

Jaydon's October Week 2 Reflection

What were your initial expectations coming to work at U+/YRES, and how have they evolved after your first couple weeks on the job?

When I first joined U+, my initial expectations were completely different, almost like night and day compared to how things have evolved now. I remember feeling incredibly nervous, unsure of what to expect, and uncertain if I’d be able to adjust to the new environment. Everything felt unfamiliar, and I couldn’t help but worry about how I’d fit in or whether I’d meet the standards of the professional role that I applied for. But after meeting the team and working with projects, I found myself adapting, gaining confidence, and realizing that the reality of the experience is not too different than what I am used to.

 

What is one strategy that you use to manage co-op and academic work? What’s something that U+ does well in helping you in maintaining that balance?

One strategy I use to manage my Co-op and academic work is creating a detailed weekly schedule on Google Calendar where I section out specific times for both school assignments and Co-op responsibilities. By doing this, I am able to generate free-time slots and have my work organized in a professional manner. One thing that U+ does that helps improve my time management skills and maintain balance is to provide deadlines weeks in advance. By doing this U+ allows me to add future Co-Op tasks in my Calendar allowing me to manage my time to meet expectations. 

 

One of the key parts of success in a workplace is setting goals. No matter the magnitude or length, goal-setting helps you recognize what you want to accomplish in any professional work setting. What are some things you want to achieve during your co-op at U+?

During my Co-op at U+, one of my main goals is to strengthen my technical skills, particularly in web designing languages like; HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I want to become more proficient in creating attractive web designs while learning the best practices for front end development. In addition,  I also want to work on my leadership abilities. By taking initiative in group tasks, communicating clearly with my peers and supervisors, and leading small projects. Lastly, I hope to improve my time management skills. By getting used to balancing between school work and Co-Op projects, I aim to develop stronger organizational habits to meet deadlines efficiently without sacrificing the quality of my work. By setting these goals, I hope to leave this experience not only with an expanded technical skill set but also as a more capable and confident individual, ready for future careers.

 

What interactions or collaborations with colleagues or supervisors stood out to you this week? How did these interactions enhance your understanding of the workplace and the industry?

This week, attending the team leader meetings and collaborating with team members really stood out to me. In the team leader meetings, I was able to observe how many decisions were made from the teaching and leadership perspective. Through the meetings I gained deeper insight into the planning and thought process that goes into managing a team and leading projects. Collaborating with my team members on projects also enhanced my understanding of how teamwork functions in a professional setting. We had to coordinate our efforts, troubleshoot problems together, and make sure everyone was on the same page. These interactions helped me improve my communication and technical skills, and improved my appreciation of the importance of collaboration in any workplace/professional environment.

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