Bella Hoffer, Plus3 Ireland Summer 2023
This was my first time being in Europe, so I had many new experiences that have impacted my goals. Visiting huge companies, like Google, Microsoft, and DocuSign, and small companies, like Thinkhouse and Guinness Enterprise Center, provided many new perspectives. Of course, we learned all about the companies and the roles within them. However, we focused a lot on company culture, including what type of people they hire, how they motivate employees, and the type of environment they create in the workplace. The best way to explain this is by comparing Google and Microsoft. Both are huge tech companies that do many of the same things. However, their employees and company culture are very different. Google has created a playground of an office, where they provide just about anything you can think of. Their goal is to make people feel comfortable at the office and have their social circle at the office, so they don’t necessarily have to leave. Microsoft on the other hand only provides the general benefits that you could find at any ordinary office. This may not seem as appealing, but they only want their employees to be there during work hours. This is just one way to compare them, but I did not realize how important the values of a company are to the employee experience. This is something I will focus on when looking at companies to work for in the future. I want a work environment that has like-minded people, is supportive and motivating, but does not consume my life. Throughout my career I want to stay true to myself and surround myself with good people.
By listening to business executives and guest speakers, I also discovered that connections are everything. Networking and knowing the right people can get you so far. In my next two years of college, I want to focus not only on my classes, but also meeting new people and expanding my network. Building these relationships within my college community and beyond could lead me to a position or company that I am interested in. In terms of my personal growth, meeting new people during this trip has also shown me the value of new relationships. I barely knew the twenty people on this trip and now I can say I have made some great friends. I will never forget some of the memories we made together. Meeting Irish people was so interesting as well because their upbringing and perspectives are so different. The people I met and experiences I had makes me want to keep traveling and having new experiences. Overall, I want to continue meeting new people and making connections.
I have developed so many personal skills as well. Being in a new, uncomfortable place has forced me to lean on my strengths and develop my weaknesses. I have more confidence in myself because I was successful in a new environment. I have better adaptability because I was able to transition and thrive in a different country. I have gained so much knowledge about Irish culture and cultural differences in general, which makes me a more well-rounded individual. It has shown me that there are always ways to continue learning and growing. The lessons you can learn out in the world can be even more valuable than the ones in the classroom. My goal is to keep seeking these new cultural experiences and keep growing.
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