I already find myself on my second week at V-Soft Consulting mesmerized by this marvelous city. In the process, after settling into the office and exploring the city, I have jotted down some important tips to not only survive the first week on the job, but to thrive:

1. Maintain a solid work-life balance
2. Uphold the chain of command
3. Sustain your health and well-being
4. Enjoy/discover the local community

Work-Life Balance

Reiterating last week’s blog to a greater extent, finding a balance between work and chit-chat has been a constant learning curve. As my mother used to say,

“You always have time for everything as long as you manage your time.”

This week, after my initial days getting a feel for the company and learning about its corporate structure, I began establishing a daily working routine with the help of my coworker Casey centered on a more structured schedule to keep me in task while maintaining an environment open to communication and success.

Chain of Command

You can’t lose if you get approval from your boss. Since the start of my second week, I have observed the office hierarchy/chain of command where asking for approval before sending an email and other similar actions required time more active communication. Through numerous long-term projects and meetings throughout the week, I realized decisions take a certain amount of time since this chain of command is necessary for the continued success of the office; a huge lesson I have learned at V-Soft.

Thanks to the positive and open communication in the office established during my first week, I have been able to ask for approval from my supervisors that helps me stay both focused and on track. Much like the food chain, V-Soft Consulting has its big fish and little fish that all play a role in the underwater ecosystem – in this case, the IT consulting world.

In food chains and ecosystems, many vehicles transfer energy from one level to another as all the different organisms in an ecosystem are connected. Similarly, V-Soft embodies this well-connected web or ecosystem where each employee, even me as an intern, plays a role in its sustainability and success.

Health and Well-Being

Throughout high school and college, I learned the importance of maintaining an active and fit body and mind to maintain a healthy life - I have brought this to Kentucky. When arriving to Louisville I established a daily running routine. At first, I began running early in the morning around seven AM to avoid the midday heat wave; however, I learned that running at night at eight PM was best.

While I have unfortunately not been completely consistent with this “daily” running routine, it has helped me keep my mind and body healthy and balanced at the end of the day.

Unexpected Things Happen

No one is going to take better care of you than yourself. Sickness: Flaming fever, perfuse sweating. My biggest fear when moving or visiting anywhere for an extended period of time is getting sick. Both inside and outside the office I do my best to take care of my health and body; however, I could not stand the force of mother nature’s harsh fever. Friday morning I had to call the day in sick. With no one else around to take care of me, I resorted to staying in bed for most of the day.

Enjoying Louisville

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, from Walden or Life in the Woods, my favorite Romanticism writer,

“I went to the woods [or in this case, Louisville] because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life”

This past weekend, I had the honor to embark on a canoeing trip with 22 other Yalies. With six miles of river covered in approximately five hours. It's safe to say I was very tired by the end of the trip. In addition, I had the opportunity to visit Churchill Downs this past Thursday afternoon. Combined with seeing the typical tourist attractions such as the Slugger and Muhammad Ali museums, visiting the Falls of the Ohio, and experiencing the blazing humidity, Louisville and specifically the V-Soft community has warmly welcomed me as part of their home.

Did you miss my week 1 post? if so check it out here, "the IT Company Intern Survival: Week 1."