Why You Learn More Working Than at School!

Funny how much perspective you gain moving out of your comfort zone.

I just got back from my summer in California, that was nothing short of amazing!  I have been home less than a week, and I am already wishing I was back in Plao Alto. 

Being back in the midwest, it is more apparent than ever how much knowledge I have gained while working at Socialtext.  At the end of my internship I sat down with Ross Mayfield and Eugene Lee to review what I learned during my summer at Socialtext.  Until I gave my small presentation I hadn’t really known how much I acomplished, learned, and grew over the summer.  I was opened to the world of start ups, technology, and social software; a whole world my eyes were never opened to before. 

I am going into my senior year of college, and have learned more in my internship at Socialtext than I have at school.  I have come to realize that undergrad business school is not that great for teaching what you need to know for your career, that’s what work experience is for.  However school is pretty much a necessity these days.  I have been in countless group/team projects in school where my professors think they are breaking ground because they…(hold your breath) let you pick your groups, and the company.  But I haven’t been proud of anything a group of mine has ever done.  I have never felt responsible or connected to the group work done in school, there is nothing that is tying me to it.  Up until this summer I haven’t had a job I liked or connected to.  At Socialtext I was level with the marketing team, we all worked together, and I was contributing as much as everyone else.  We had daily meetings, collaboration, word smithing.  I felt a great connection to the company and all the employees.  I wanted to contribute just as well as the other team members, bring insight and, do my job to the best of my ability.  Socialtext taught me everything about the Silicon Valley culture, and business social skills I will definitely need to have a successful career.  It just really comes down to the fact that I cared about my work at Socialtext and I cared about the company’s success.  That is the difference between being a student and a professional!

~ by heidizuehlke on September 5, 2008.