Calvin University

Research Assistant

April 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I liked that I got 'real world' experience in a field that I would like to pursue (acoustics/vibrations). I liked being able to take 'real' data and also learn how to analyze said data.

What I wish was different

I wish I was able to see it to the end rather than graduate!

Advice

Engineering is only 50% staring at a computer screen, it is indeed 50% fun with experiments and problem solving!

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Cleaning Crew

May - September 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I loved working with my supervisor and the other students. I made a lot of friends and got to know the KE apartments and how they operate a lot better

What I wish was different

Advice

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Summer Researcher

May - July 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Don't be afraid to reach out to Professors about potential summer research opportunities. They are excited to share their knowledge and introduce students to the world of research.

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Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

Enjoyed the working environment and being able to use what I learned about in class in real life.

What I wish was different

Advice

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HelpDesk Receptionist/Phone Technician/Student Manager

July 2016 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

CIT has a friendly atmosphere. The full-time staff are understanding and are always willing to help you through anything you don't understand. The other student employees are nice too. I had lots of fun working with great co-workers. CIT is also a valuable learning experience. I learned so much about customer service and troubleshooting technology issues. CIT has been a great working environment for me, and I'm so glad that I've been able to get experience there.

What I wish was different

When technology goes down, people want it to be fixed quickly. Sometimes the pressure and stress of all the issues I had to help out with was overwhelming for me. I spent too much time dwelling on it, and it was not good for my mental health.

Advice

When it comes to customer service, always do what you can for someone who needs help. But if the problem is beyond your capabilities, do not be upset. Be content with the fact that you did all you could.

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Communication group leader

August - December 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

The flexibility of the job.

What I wish was different

Everything was good.

Advice

Relax and don't think too much!

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IMPACT Programming Intern

June - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I loved working on a caring and driven team. Our goal was to create an impactful and meaningful orientation experience for Calvin's incoming minority class. Through our commitment to that mission, we were able to fashion a community-building experience that those students will remember for the rest of their Calvin journey.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Nursing Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I appreciated getting the chance to learn about how to write a formal literature review, as well as working alongside other Calvin nursing students. I enjoyed learning about community health and what methods work and don't work for reaching out to women in the community and assisting them in learning about reproductive and contraceptive health.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more interaction and teaching opportunities with the women who participated in the research project.

Advice

I would say to future research assistants to ask lots of questions in regard to the literature review writing. I did not ask enough questions because I felt incompetent, but I ended up having to redo some of my work because of it. It would've been better to be less self-conscious about my ignorance and ask frequent questions about what I was doing.

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Research Assisant

May 2018 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

It was a very good environment because I did research with my friends and a professor that I really love. I had the opportunity to present at a regional conference and will be presenting at a national conference in January as well.

What I wish was different

I wish that I could have started doing research earlier.

Advice

It's a steep learning curve but professors are super understanding when you're unsure or confused about something so don't be afraid to ask questions!

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Student Research Assistant

May - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

Totally love the experience! I have learned a lot. My professor was super helpful to supervise me through my research with her

What I wish was different

Since my research lasts only 10 weeks. Would love to have more time to continue my project and explore more with the field.

Advice

Working hard, trying you best! Don't be shy to reach out to any people that you may think will be helpful to your project! The more you ask, the more you learn!

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

May 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I liked learning how to write a professional systematic review of material, and use different databases to gain access to certain articles.

What I wish was different

I wish there was more people interaction. I didn't expect to be doing so much essay writing and reading of various different articles.

Advice

Remember that research can come in many different forms. Research doesn't just mean sitting at a computer and crunching numbers, and it also doesn't just mean meeting with patients in a clinical setting. Keep your options open and let negative aspects be used as learning experiences.

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Helpdesk Technician

May - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

Work environment

What I wish was different

More interesting work

Advice

It's a great place with great people.

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Student Telecommunication Technician

September 2017 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I enjoyed this position because it involves a good deal of both technical learning as well as face to face interaction.

What I wish was different

There was a great deal of uncertainty with this job this last summer - positions were changing and I was not sure how the changes would affect me.

Advice

I would really recommend experiences like this.

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Swim lessons instructor

June - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I liked that it was a consistent schedule

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Working here was great and a really fun time

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Calvin Research Fellow

May - August 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

Learned an incredible amount about the research process and Grad school. It was an integral experience in developing an understanding of career choices.

What I wish was different

It was in Grand Rapids, where I have been born and raised. It would have been nice to move away for the summer.

Advice

Summer jobs are an oppurtunity to

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Head Custodian

May - September 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

The stable work hours

What I wish was different

Higher pay

Advice

It's a good job for earning money, but it's not very impressive on a resume

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

May - September 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

Learning more through interactive research and being able to apply the knowledge of classes in the field.

What I wish was different

Nothing, it was great.

Advice

Get yourself out there and look for something that will boost your resume and help pay some bills.

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Research Assistant

May 2019 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

As a research assistant on this project, I became well-versed in current Linguistics and Speech Pathology topics and practices. I gained familiarity with the SALT software, which is often used in my field. I also learned how to take what I've studied with respect to language and grammar thus far and practically apply it by learning how to code for errors at the word and sentence levels. This experience allowed me to go beyond just understanding topics in Linguistics to thinking critically about them and improving my written communication skills.

What I wish was different

Much of my tasks were completed independently, but I would've liked to have done more work alongside the other research assistants.

Advice

Research projects often involve multiple tasks that need to be completed at the same time, and unexpected issues can arise at any given moment. With this kind of work, it's incredibly important to be flexible. You can't always see how things will play out very far down the line.

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