I can’t believe I have just one year left. It’s a scary thought, that I’m running out of time to take classes like Customer Behavior and Healthcare Services — elective classes that led me to Wharton in the first place. Before I dig in on the details of this year, let me fill you in on my summer.
The Atacama Desert
I went on a leadership venture after classes let out in May. 25 of my classmates and I headed down to Chile to hike through the Atacama Desert, taking turns leading our small groups. Each night we would find a site to pitch our tents, make some dinner, and discuss how the day went. As an Eagle Scout, I spent a lot of time hiking as a kid. I didn’t expect to be physically challenged… but I was wrong! On our last day in Chile we climbed a very steep (and icy) mountain face to ascend to around 15,500 feet. This was when I discovered that despite the fact that I love rock climbing, I have a fear of heights! Toppling down the mountain felt like a real possibility, but my classmates are amazing. They got me up on my feet, and didn’t let vertigo get me down!
The Facebook Internship
This summer I interned at Facebook in NYC as a Creative Strategist. It was a roller-coaster! While Facebook has grown into a tech giant, with offices around the world, it still has strong elements of its start-up roots. Departments shift and change, their goals morph and team members move to different roles. None of this felt capricious, all of the change was geared towards creating a better company. Internally, employees at Facebook talk a lot about being 1% finished. Facebook isn’t done yet, it has a LONG way to go. This speaks to Mark’s vision of Facebook’s role in connecting the world. This summer I spent my time helping CPG brands and their agencies get the most out of the News Feed.
Now that I’m back at school I’m busy figuring out what I want to do next. Return to Facebook? Get into Health Tech or maybe EdTech? I’m enjoying this last opportunity to really examine what I want to do with my career. Stay tuned!