Work Ethic

One of the most important traits someone can have in the workforce is a strong work ethic. In this week's assignment for Honor's Mentorship, we did an activity that allowed us to take the Occupational Work Ethic Inventory (OWEI) quiz in order to get a score that we could compare to the baseline average of a large group of adults working professional jobs. I was satisfied with my scores, as they proved to be somewhat above average. I'd like to think that I was pretty honest with myself, but at the same time I recognize the fact that sometimes it is easy to say one thing and practice another. The quiz was an especially good reference for ways that I could improve my work ethic, as it provided me with a list of traits that an employer might look for, and that might improve my successes in not only my career, but my quality of life in general.


It is crucial to my success that I establish good habits, and do everything with a clear purpose and determined state of mind. I hope to try and exhibit traits that will set me apart as a worker, and allow me to keep my job and life in a state of organization. The quiz made me realize I occasionally might struggle with punctuality, but I know that I am absolutely capable of over-coming this. That's not to say I'm unreliable, but I definitely have room for self-improvement, as does everyone. I look forward to using the next year to expand my work-ethic responsibilities outside of just my study habits, but my ability to work with other people efficiently in a professional environment, and practice exercising traits and habits that will prepare my for my career down the road.

Communication

It is very important to consider in each and every scenario you find yourself in, what the appropriate form of communication is. I find that it's mostly intuitive, but still valuable to step back and evaluate the situation before deciding how you want to communicate. Sometimes we find ourselves communicating in personal relationships in ways that would be unprofessional in the work-place.
It is also important to know your employers and coworkers and be able to pick up on nonverbal ques in order to decide how to communicate in a given scenario.


It is not just things people say, but things like body language, facial expressions, and posture that reflect what your listener is thinking, and thus how to communicate better. Communication is not always verbal, and can take place by other means of communication which do not really allow for non-verbal conversational ques. Equally as important as being able to convey things in an articulate and appropriate manor is having the ability to be a good listener. Conversations should not be one sided, so by listening well, you gain more. It is also recommended to ask good questions because it reassures that you were listening. When talking to a friend it might not be expected that you remain formal and alert. However, when talking to someone like an employer, it is crucial to communicate well because your communication skills will directly reflect your boss's opinion of your utility and ability to collaborate with those around you.


The relationship you maintain with your employer and coworkers is not typically overly personal, and therefore it should not be treated as such. I can apply these ideas by giving my employer 100% of my attention when spoken to, and keeping things that don't belong at work out of work-related conversations. That's not to say I shouldn't tell my boss anything about myself, but there's a time and place for everything, so I'll avoid letting it affect my work. I'll carefully ask for help when I need help, but be sure to listen and make an effort to understand when my questions are answered. I'll have clear and concise questions as well, because this will play a role in my boss's opinion of me. Every scenario is going to be different so it is best to be tactful in communication efforts, and most of all pay attention, because the key to being a good conversationalist is not just being able to talk, but to listen.

Week of September 5th

The article "Getting Ready for Your Mentor" was very informative on how to make the most of an internship experience. It stressed the importance of realizing the opportunity at hand, and gave some major "do's and don'ts"to abide by. One thing in particular that stood out to me is that you shouldn't get frustrated with menial tasks. They may not be fun, but it's an opportunity to prove your competence and dedication to your employer so that down the road they may trust you with bigger and more significant tasks. It is important to give every aspect of the job your best effort, show up on time, dress to the occasion, and be enthusiastic. An internship is also a wonderful networking opportunity as it allows you to meet many people in different levels and positions, who work in your prospective field. I will try my very best to take initiative at my internship and give all my projects my very best effort, because I know that I will get out of it what I put into it. I will try and go above and beyond on all my tasks, and make the most of every opportunity, be it something small or a major project. I will have the opportunity to prove myself, and establish relationships with people in the field that I hope to build my future career in. I want to learn as much as I can, and give as much as I can so that I can inspire the students I'm working with, and learn more about engineering and robotics. I am more than willing to give my mentor 110 percent effort on all my projects, because if I give it my all, the opportunity I have at hand will foreshadow my future career, and give me a competitive edge in building my portfolio. More importantly though, my efforts will hopefully provide the middle school students with a rewarding robotics experience and get them excited about something that I am truly passionate about. These first few weeks have been tiring, but I am unbeleivably grateful to have such a unique experience to learn from a professional and learn how to teach something that I'm passionate about to others.

Being a leader is something everyone can do. By making changes in your everyday life, you can bring your ideas to life and bring out the best in the people around you. It is up to each and every one of us to guide each other and voice our opinions.

Week of August 29th

JD Russo's talk stressed over and over the importance of leadership in a world of indifference. He suggested that people's go to safe gaurd from the problems of modern society was simply to choose not to care. It suggests that downfalls come not from a lack of awareness but a lack of care for the issues. The talk stuck out to me because it really defines just exactly why it is so important to have leaders and activists in today's society. It is easy to pass judgement or think that someone is wasting their time when they're strongly opinionated or speaking their voice when the truth is, society relies on us not to be passive when it comes to the issues that directly affect us. This idea makes me want to stand up for what I beleive in by making an effort to get things done, and always having a purpose. In today's world and even in the work force is one thing to know what you're doing, but another to know why you're doing it. One issue that has always stood out to me is the absurd carbon footprint our country has from the automobile industry. I hope one day to use the skills I learn in engineering and apply them to the cause to help protect our planet.