FALL 2024 SEMESTER RECAP
Welcome back to the blog!
Wishing you the best as we begin to enter this new year! I wanted to reflect on my last semester, Fall 2024, and all I accomplished within my fall internship, involvement opportunities, and more.
This past semester, my biggest accomplishment by far, was my fall internship working at BD, as a Surgery Procurement Intern. During this role, I worked on various projects to add value and further support the team. This opportunity allowed me to further develop and grow my skills both personally and professionally. I enjoyed the opportunity to work on sourcing projects to acquire new suppliers and find cost-effective opportunities for the company. Additionally, I worked to track emissions for a new BD initiative to cut down on pollution from our suppliers to meet global sustainability demands. I enjoyed learning new software systems, new processes, how to formally practice requesting quotes, and how to further enhance my effective communication skills within an office environment.
I additionally had the opportunity to take two external trips during the semester as well. MeDevice Boston is an annual convention held for suppliers and associates to attend to source products and learn more about current innovation trends. I enjoyed the opportunity as I was able to speak face-to-face with vendors about the different products each company manufactured. It was interesting to see, in person, the vast display that the convention and the MeDevice industry as a whole had to offer. When I attended the convention back in September, I was fairly new to the internship at BD which made it an even better experience since I was able to learn so much in just one day.
Later in the semester, I also had the opportunity to travel to BD’s main biosurgery plant in Woburn, Massachusetts. This allowed me to get a visual explanation and demonstration of how the biosurgery products are manufactured in-house. I was amazed at how the team works and how thorough they are. As you can imagine, medical device products used for surgery (that will eventually be utilized for patient care) need to be manufactured in a sterile environment. When I took the tour, I had to properly gown up to enter the clean rooms to stay compliant with plant regulations. Overall, I enjoyed learning what day-to-day life looks like working in a plant as well.
Furthermore, I additionally planned a team volunteer event at the Ronald McDonald House in Providence, Rhode Island. If you are unfamiliar, the house helps to support families in need who may have a family member in the hospital. The house provides rooms, meals, and more and offers an outlet for anyone going through a tough time. I was overjoyed to be able to volunteer with the organization and assist with decorating the house for the holidays. It was a great team event, and I enjoyed spending time with the team in a more outside setting.
What I have most enjoyed about this experience has been the drive and work ethic the surgery procurement team has and how it has made me more diligent in my work. I am excited to work each day and enjoy the projects I have been asked to support. I additionally have appreciated the freedom within this role as well as I have had the opportunity to work independently and further build my skill set. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be able to network with so many associates within the Warwick office as well. Each week, I look to network with at least one new associate to further my connections and I’ve enjoyed getting to learn about the different departments and projects other teams are currently working on. I am grateful for the experience I’ve been given working for BD and appreciate the time spent teaching me.
This past fall, I was accepted to be a College of Business Student Ambassador! Through this role, I volunteered for various business events within the college. It has been a great opportunity to further network with professors in different departments that I haven't had classes with, and other student ambassadors as well. I enjoyed getting to speak with prospective students and families at different events, helping to further assist them in answering any questions about the college. Additionally, I gave tours of the building as well, further sharing about the business curriculum, expectations, and extracurricular activities the college offers. Check out my student ambassador page here!
Additionally, for the College of Business, I served as a Business 101 peer mentor. This entailed having the privilege to teach the Business 101 course to over 25 first-year students for the second year in a row. In the course, the college works to help prepare first-year students for various aspects of student success within their first semester. I assisted in helping to develop students’ skills, goal setting, and sharing resources they have the opportunity to utilize. I also held resume and LinkedIn workshops for my students during the semester as well.
Furthermore, during the College of Business Fall Career Day, I spoke on an internship panel to first and second-year students, sharing my past internship experiences and how I’ve worked to gain both the connections and opportunities I’ve had. I shared advice on networking, attaining internships, and how to be best prepared for professional settings. I enjoyed getting to speak on the panel and answer value-adding questions from the students as well. I hope to have made an impact on the attendees and that some of the advice I shared will be useful for students.
Through all of my hard work, I once earned a spot on the Fall 2024 Dean’s List (view here).
Looking ahead, I am very excited to embark on a new semester. I continue to push myself by adding new ways to gain experience and further grow my skillset. I am excited to continue with BD in the same role for the spring semester for the surgery procurement team. By staying with procurement, I have been given the unique opportunity to work on a green belt project to complete my certification through Lean Six Sigma. With the opportunity of this project, by the end of this semester, I hope to complete both my yellow belt and green belt certification. Additionally, I have taken on a second internship working for Zmanti, a women-led start-up company in Rhode Island. I recommend signing up for their monthly newsletter as it will be one of the main roles within my job as their new Social Media Marketing Intern! Furthermore, I am excited to continue as an ambassador for the college next semester as I look forward to the campus Welcome Days and speaking in marketing panels for admitted students. Although it will be busy, the opportunities I have been given will overall further build my skills and experience. I am excited to embark on my 6th semester!
Wishing you a great start to the new year! As always,
XOXO,
Jules :)
