post-internship reflections

a few random reflections in no particular order:

• at first free, departments rely on each other. for example, the communications department needs to know what sermon series is coming up so they can design and print out new worship folders. until they communicate, nothing gets done.
  
• i have recently discovered the importance of a good website for your business/organization. because really, that is how people do research today. we have welcome cards in the backs of the pews for visitors to fill out. one of the fields is "how i found this church." a good percentage write "the website." our website is functional and decent, but it's somewhat old. we're in the process of redoing it. (it's a rather long process since we're redoing more than just the website... we're redoing the logo, etc, too.) i think some of the staff don't see the point in redoing the website, but the fact that over half the people that visit found our church via the internet, it just proves the importance of a good, sharp, informative website. it's worth the time and money.
  
• i've discovered that i have a lot of growing up to do before i would become a manager/boss of someone. i think by nature, i'm a better follower than a leader. i'm more laidback when it comes to sharing my opinion/giving orders. when we have department meetings, i usually have an opinion, but i rarely feel it's strong enough to share/argue over. perhaps that will change with more time and experience... it's just a personal observation i had.
  

no longer an intern.

as of last friday, i am no longer blake the intern. i am blake the... unemployed. and that is fantastic by me. :)

friday was a pretty grand day. without a doubt, the best day of my internship. i came in friday morning and finished printing out the care ministry brochures i'd been working out. (my boss LOVED them, by the way.) when i finished, i asked anna what else i should do. she paused to think... since she'd taken over the focus again, there wasn't much left for me to do. so she said, "you know what, blake? here's your assignment. go online and google "photoshop tutorials." then play around. i want you to have fun on your last day here!" how AMAZING is that?! so i played around on photoshop all day! (which was GREAT since i haven't had too much experience with photoshop.) then anna told me how much she appreciated me and what a help i've been and how she's going to miss me. and then i cleaned out my desk (there wasn't a whole lot there, haha)... and left... the state! i spent all of last weekend in chicago with friends. and let me tell you, on monday morning, it was SO refreshing to know that i didn't have to be at work! i definitely loved my internship... but... it's really nice to have a couple weeks to myself. and i'm back to my collegiate habits now! (staying up late, getting up late.) haha.

...more reflecting to come.

before i forget...

a woman just came into the office, wanting to use the giant cutting machine. since i'm the first person you see as you walk into the office, she asked me, "are you the go-to girl about how to use the cutting machine?" since i did, in fact, know how to use the cutting machine, i responded, "yes! i can help you." so we went into the copy room and i showed her how to adjust the machine settings and how to place the paper in and how to actually use the giant machine (remember? the big, huge one that could chop your arm off if you're not careful?). i demonstrated a couple times and then watched her do it. "THANK YOU SO MUCH!" she exclaimed, with a sigh of relief.

...aaand that's all. i just wanted to document that i am a cutting machine PRO. :)