DePaul University

Undergraduate Researcher

June - August 2023 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

The people

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

Try something new

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Orientation Leader

June - August 2023 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I loved building community with both my orientation team/coworkers and the incoming freshmen class. I feel so much more connected to DePaul and myself after this experience. This was a fun and productive way to spend my summer. I made memories to last a lifetime. I gained transferable skills and techniques that will impact my career in whichever field I choose to pursue.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Supplemental Instructor

September 2022 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Firstly, I found great satisfaction in actively participating in the lectures for the course I supported. Being a model student allowed me to stay closely aligned with the professor's teaching style and course content. I also derived immense fulfillment from conducting guided study sessions. These sessions not only reinforced my own understanding of statistical concepts but also provided a platform to help my peers. Witnessing students grasp challenging statistical topics and improve their problem-solving skills was incredibly rewarding. Promoting SI sessions to fellow students was another aspect I liked. Encouraging attendance and participation in these sessions allowed me to contribute to the academic success of my peers. Data collection was a valuable task as it facilitated continuous improvement. Collecting attendance data and direct student learning data enabled us to fine-tune our support strategies and ensure the effectiveness of SI sessions. Collaborating with other SI Leaders and regularly meeting with supervisors and professors fostered a sense of camaraderie and collective growth. This collaborative environment was not only enjoyable but also instrumental in our professional development. Completing New Leader Training and participating in quarterly SI Leader Training were additional highlights. These opportunities enhanced my statistical knowledge, Excel skills, and teaching methods. Overall, my role as a Supplemental Instructor allowed me to gain valuable experiences, hone my skills, and make a positive impact on the academic journeys of fellow students. It solidified my passion for education and the joy of facilitating learning.

What I wish was different

Resource Accessibility: I wish there had been more accessible resources available to support the SI program. Additional materials or tools, especially for conducting effective zoom study sessions, would have been beneficial. Ensuring that both in-person and remote students had equitable access to resources could have improved the overall experience. Student Engagement: While I thoroughly enjoyed conducting study sessions, there were instances where some students were less engaged. I wish there had been more strategies or initiatives in place to encourage greater participation among all students. Finding ways to make the sessions even more interactive and inclusive could have been valuable. Feedback Mechanism: A more robust feedback mechanism for both students and SI Leaders could have been helpful. Constructive feedback can be a powerful tool for improvement, and having a structured way to collect and act on feedback could have enhanced the effectiveness of the program. Flexibility in Training: While the training provided was valuable, I wish there had been more flexibility in terms of tailoring it to the specific needs and challenges faced by SI Leaders. Personalized training modules or sessions could have been more beneficial. Expanded Outreach: Although I promoted SI sessions in class and through email, I wish there had been opportunities for broader outreach. Expanding the reach of these sessions to a wider audience could have had an even greater impact on student success. Increased Faculty Engagement: While I did maintain regular communication with professors, I believe deeper faculty engagement in the SI program could have further aligned our efforts with the course's academic objectives. More collaboration and shared goals with professors could have been beneficial. Despite these areas for improvement, I want to emphasize that my experience as a Supplemental Instructor was highly valuable and rewarding. These reflections are meant to highlight opportunities for enhancement rather than detract from the overall positive experience of contributing to student success.

Advice

I would say that effective communication and collaboration are extremely key to being successful in SI roles. Also, being resourceful to students and treating them like your friends (which they are, lol) are extremely important in having engaging sessions. Along with that, being open to feedback is important in being a successful supplemental instructor.

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Orientation Leader

June - September 2023 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I enjoyed the close community of coworkers that the NSFE office created.

What I wish was different

I wish the shift were shorter. I always enjoyed working as an orientation leader but some days we would work 13 hour shifts.

Advice

Be ready to adapt to anything. You never know what issue or schedule change you might have to accommodate for.

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Student Center Building Manager

August 2021 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Time management experience. Opportunity to create minutes. Leadership focused job. Sent in school schedule to work hours.

What I wish was different

Hours sometimes overwhelming with school. Days not balanced.

Advice

Take any job on campus to have flexibility with hours especially over break.

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Research Fellow at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

June - August 2021 • North Chicago, IL

What I liked

The ability to work independently, the extreme amount of knowledge I learned. The basic lab skills I acquired, the prestige of the job and the experience on my resume. The connections I made with my coworkers and bosses.

What I wish was different

Advice

If you can do this or something similar you should, it was the best and most impactful experience of my undergraduate career and my most real look at the real world.

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tour guide coordinator intern

August 2020 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Managing a large team is a great skill booster.

What I wish was different

Covid protocols made in person work difficult.

Advice

Set up an office for remote work to make it feel more professional.

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Data Analyst

October 2015 - May 2016 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I like the close mentoring that took place during the learning process, which involved learning IBM's SPSS software and recording survey responses as data entry.

What I wish was different

I would have liked to fit more work into each meeting. There's always a more efficient way to finish a task.

Advice

Always show up on time.

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Front Desk Receptionist

September 2019 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I love talking to students living in the dorms as they pass by! Its fun to be surrounded by people I know.

What I wish was different

Advice

Its a learn as you go position as there are lots of specific scenarios you can't be trained for.

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Idea Realization Lab Manager

July 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Learning equipment like CNC routers, laser cutters, and table saws. I also met tons of amazing people in the lab; it's a great hangout space for meeting creatives not in your major and for spending time with friends. It's one of THE coolest places in the university to show off to people you know.

What I wish was different

Wish we didn't have to work remotely and make PPE but with the COVID situation that's just how it ended up. Working in-person during a typical school year is so much more engaging.

Advice

You are so much more capable than you think. Taking things in stride and learning as you go is a valuable skill- many of the staff joined the community knowing nothing about 3D printers and left being specialists in the topic. Answer with what you know and redirect to someone else when you don't know and you'll seem like the most competent person in the room. Also. management is all about delegation. If you take tasks on by yourself you will be overwhelmed.

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Research assistant

June 2019 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Reliable and clear work schedule

What I wish was different

Longer time spent working, not just 2 weeks of full time

Advice

Recommend research positions

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Summer research fellow

July - September 2020 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

This was through the McNair program so I had a lot of support.

What I wish was different

The conference we presented at at the end of the summer was virtual due to COVID, I wish we could’ve presented in person.

Advice

Manage your time well and follow along with the assignment calendar.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

July 2020 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I like that I can be independent and learn more about the academic research process. It was also lovely to work with one of my former professors! I learned a lot about the specific field of research, including theory but also practice. I read a lot of scholarly works and also am getting a chance to work with qualitative data and analysis. It's been an incredible experience and I'm so grateful to have been/keep being a part of it!

What I wish was different

I wish I had started doing URAPs earlier in my career as an undergraduate student, and it would have been lovely if it were in person, even though a lot of the work transfers well remotely.

Advice

URAPs can be different depending on the field/situation/research team, but always make sure to keep time-management in mind, because the quarter system flies by!

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Research Assistant

June - August 2020 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

The close relationship I had with my Professor (who invited me as a research assistant for his new book) allowed me to receive tailored feedback and personal advice for my writing style. I also loved how some of the work requested of me (such as writing a creative piece about phages and CRISPR) helped me grow and experiment as a writer.

What I wish was different

I transcribed quite a lot of interviews. I wish I did a bit more creatively fulfilling work.

Advice

Keep in contact with your employer. Building connections helps a lot in the long run. Also, be realistic about how long it will take you to complete a project. It's better to submit it late and say it's going to be late than to not say anything at all.

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Sound Engineering Technician

September 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Flexibility Practical Experience Wonderful work environment and colleagues

What I wish was different

I wish there were more frequent shifts, and that DePaul hired less outside contractors for work that students are already trained to do. I wish we had more training so that student workers can utilize all the amazing equipment to its full potential

Advice

This is a wonderful job for anyone with experience in sound technology and media. This job does not offer a very consistent income, so it's not recommended for someone who is looking for a part time job with a minimum number of ours per week.

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DePaul Men's Basketball Student Manager

May 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

After being with this job for nearly 6 months, I've learned so many things. I won't list everything I enjoyed about this job but I can say the most important thing I liked about this job is making relationships. With any job you have, you should always network with others and this is what I did and will continue to do.

What I wish was different

The only thing I wish that could be different is communication between staff members. For any job to go smoothly, you need to be able to communicate to others important tasks or information so nobody will feel like they were left out.

Advice

I would share that you should always make a decision that your future self will thank you for. I would have never been able to have the opportunities that I have today if it wasn't for networking, communicating, or making relationships with people that could benefit me in the future.

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Front Desk Receptionist

January 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

The shifts are in 4 hour increments, which is helpful when you are a student scheduling classes. You are also allowed to work on homework while at the desk, as long as you're paying attention to who is coming in and out of the building.

What I wish was different

Management can be a little disorganized and scheduling is very last minute, which can be challenging when you want to know your schedule even a week in advance.

Advice

Overall, the experience was positive due to the ability to work on homework while getting paid!

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Research Assistant

September 2018 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

I really like working closely with other students and professors on a real life project. It's very flexible and I get to apply the skills I've learned in class.