POST 1: An intro to my WLE: January 6th
The reason why I didn't go to Job Shadow Day was because I didn't make a call to my mentor to officially set it up. My mentor is Herman Hammon, he is the boss of his company named Wicked Wear. At Wicked Wear, they manufacture jackets, T shirts, and masks for motorcyclists. The store is located on Jackson Street, right by the Walgreens and Taco Bell. What I will be doing there is assist Herman with creating graphics to be placed on to the jackets, T shirts, and masks. Well one day, my dad calls me up and tells me that one of his friends from work runs a shop dedicated to creating garmets (T shirts, jackets, and masks) and my dad talked to Herman and he said that its pretty much a done deal but I needed to call him. So I did and I acquired an internship!
POST 2: First day on the job!
Well my first day was pretty chill. I was on the computer the whole time making designs or maybe on the internet trying to find images to use in my designs. Herman doesn't get in until around 3 pm but his co-worker Carlos is there and he mentors me until Herman comes. For the first few hours, I was fumbling around with the program that I use because I had no idea how to use it. So after about 3 or 4 hours, I learned how make a basic line, make basic shapes, add color to those shapes, and how to add text. Then, I think Carlos noticed my slight struggle and came over and helped me and taught me many new things. For example, how to add text around an image, how to place a texture into shapes, and how to turn shapes into certain stylized frames.
I believe I impressed Herman when he came in. I feel I learned a lot for just the first day and when I told I'm everything I learned, he had a sort of shocked face, ha ha. I will definitely need help in learning how to use the program. At my internship, depending on if there are a lot of orders or little jobs around the work place determines if there is or isn't a lot of down time. Today, I had a lot of down time due to Herman and Carlos not needing many jobs done.
I believe I impressed Herman when he came in. I feel I learned a lot for just the first day and when I told I'm everything I learned, he had a sort of shocked face, ha ha. I will definitely need help in learning how to use the program. At my internship, depending on if there are a lot of orders or little jobs around the work place determines if there is or isn't a lot of down time. Today, I had a lot of down time due to Herman and Carlos not needing many jobs done.
POST 3: Folding and folding and folding...
My second day on the job and it is partly what I expected it to be like. Using the computer a lot, having to handle t-shirts, and manage the phone line. Today was similar yet different. Today, Haleigh and I folded EVERY blank t-shirt that Wicked Wear has and then we took inventory of it all; dividing all the garments into many different subsections. What I found most surprising about the workplace is that its not so strict to where we can wear comfortable clothing and feel like apart of the family that this workplace holds. Personally, I was expecting to have to be quiet, serious, and "mature" and always work, work, work. What I learned today is how to take inventory and categorize everything. What I hope to do next Wednesday is learn the program CorelDRAW better, get used to it, and learn new fundamental skills that will help me improve my designs.
POST 4: Day two w/ the beast!!
The second day with Haleigh and I feel that it won't be such a slow day. Little did I know, Carlos had no plans for us today, so we continued to work and think up designs. While working, Haleigh came up with an idea that we started working on and it wsa based off of a saying that she always says. So we worked on that for awhile then had our lunch break, and of course, we had a whole bunch of laughs like every week! Over the course of the day, I think my mentor thinks that Haleigh and I are young with brains of sponge ready to learn anything that has to do with their business.
What I think impresses my mentor about me is that I can hold a lot of information in my head and I'm a fast learner. What he wouldn't be impressed with is that I am a guy meaning I'm disorganized like him and that things wouldn't get organized and look super neat.
What I think impresses my mentor about me is that I can hold a lot of information in my head and I'm a fast learner. What he wouldn't be impressed with is that I am a guy meaning I'm disorganized like him and that things wouldn't get organized and look super neat.
POST 5: Leaders!
The skills that I believe are developing that you can't really learn in a classroom is Resourceful Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking. Thats because in class, you can't really solve a problem with different resources and if you do, they are set out by the teacher. Meaning, you know that you can already do it. Whereas if you are in a completely open environment, without a teacher, without set resources, without boundaries, can you solve any problem that is thrown your way? That, I believe, determines whether or not you will be able to resourcefully solve problems. Critical thinking is slightly different due to the fact that you can use it in class as well. The true difference is is that in class, you have a set topic, common theme, or a closed discussion. Whereas in the real world, you will have many problems or simply you feel you want to create something. No answer or creation pops out of thin air. Everything has inspiration, Critical Thinking is the step to turning that creation into a product you can share with the world.
The skills that I have used at my internship would be collaborate productively and express creatively. Since I got Haleigh the job with me, we work together so that is the first skill. And because we need to design different t-shirts, we need to be creative which is my second skill. My role as an intern is different because, no offense, at school, we can get in trouble yet come back to school whereas at an internship, if you get in trouble, you will get fired.
The skills that I have used at my internship would be collaborate productively and express creatively. Since I got Haleigh the job with me, we work together so that is the first skill. And because we need to design different t-shirts, we need to be creative which is my second skill. My role as an intern is different because, no offense, at school, we can get in trouble yet come back to school whereas at an internship, if you get in trouble, you will get fired.
POST 6: Grading myself!
Mastery of knowledge - I would say that i should get a 3 because I am trying to master how to use the program which is major in this business and I am really well acquainted with the program but every time i go home, throughout the week, I think about the program and think of different things that I can create with it and also how to you use it in ways I didn't think of before.
Application of knowledge - I would think I deserve a 4 in this because after I think about the program and how I could use it in different ways, I apply those ways to the program the next week I'm at my internship and little did I know, it works and I am able to create new and more advanced designs.
Metacognition - I cannot just think about myself in creating new designs, I must think about everyone around me, their hobbies and what they would rather wear or see.
Leadership Skills - I feel i deserve a 2.5 because Haleigh and I split it most of the time. She will assume the role and take charge, other times I would.
College Work Habits - I deserve a 4 because each time I'm told to do something, I do it without hesitating, I bring all materials (my lunch and time sheet), and I get what I need to finished.
Application of knowledge - I would think I deserve a 4 in this because after I think about the program and how I could use it in different ways, I apply those ways to the program the next week I'm at my internship and little did I know, it works and I am able to create new and more advanced designs.
Metacognition - I cannot just think about myself in creating new designs, I must think about everyone around me, their hobbies and what they would rather wear or see.
Leadership Skills - I feel i deserve a 2.5 because Haleigh and I split it most of the time. She will assume the role and take charge, other times I would.
College Work Habits - I deserve a 4 because each time I'm told to do something, I do it without hesitating, I bring all materials (my lunch and time sheet), and I get what I need to finished.
POST 7: Comparison.
I have read Hanah's blogs. One thing that really popped out at me was that she was very detailed in her blogs. I would help Andrea get her blogs finished because she didn't have an internship for awhile and I could help her write hers. I feel I am learning less than others because all I am doing is behind a computer most of the day. I am sort of getting bored because I design for t-shirts but at the same time I feel that I could do more, such as drawing or painting. I should do drawings and then bring them in and scan them and then work with them. This day, Haleigh and I fought so I worked alone for most of the day which, to me, is very new even though I'm in 11th grade-_-.
POST 8: Analyzing my Workplace.
I work in a small work place environment of only 2 people, Herman and Carlos. It is pretty chill considering others who work in a more populated and more busy work place. I report to Carlos who then reports to Herman unless Herman is there, then I would report to him. Carlos is happy with his boss Herman and there is never a complain or anything negative about leadership. My work place would be described as a factory border line with office because they have the machines right next to the computer. I enjoy where I work simply because Herman told me the first day that "[I] don't need to dress professional, [I] can relax and just do [my] own thing."
POST 10: Handling It.
I am behind with the hours, by about 20 hours. I have about 50 hours. What i plan to do to make up the hours is work at home on my computer with the program. Haleigh and I worked on packaging masks the whole time.
