Whenever I move to a new location, I want to discover every aspect of the city. As a result, the first few weeks in Louisville were full of exploration. As a college student from two worlds – born and raised in the West Coast while going to college in the Northeast – my summer move to Louisville a very unique experience.
With the desire to explore more of the Midwest and South, this past weekend I decided with some friends to take a day trip down to Nashville, Tennessee after realizing I only had several weeks left in Kentucky. This trip was suggested by my incredible supervisor Casey who is from Nashville, Tennessee herself.
After the initial two and a half hour drive, we had a jam-packed day completing the wide array of significant cultural and historical attractions: Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum, Belle Meade Plantation, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the Parthenon, and the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere - every hour counted for us.
I loved the exhilaration of sightseeing and exploring a new city so much that in the next weekends I plan to explore Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and potentially Chicago. Living in Louisville and working at V-Soft these past few weeks have really expanded my mind to think outside the box.
My summer internship at V-Soft Consulting has really provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the office environment. In my time here, I have completed a wide array of responsibilities ranging from recruiting for Doug, legal work for Phil, marketing for Michael, and sales for Casey. As a result, I am constantly learning skills that evolve me into a more versatile worker ready for cities like New York, Chicago, Louisville, or Cincinnati for employment.
Last week Phil, a Corporate Council, asked me to identify the specific state and city laws from across the country. At first, the project seemed very challenging – going through the legal framework of each state and city’s department seemed impossible long. However, in the words of Nelson Mandela
“It always seems impossible until its done”
After many numerous hours of research and examination of state legislation, when I finally turned in my final project last week to Phil in a printed and electronic version, I was very proud of my work. Nothing feels better than turning in a project or any assignment either on time, exceeding expectations, or ideally both.
It feels good to get stuff done! – Working hard and establishing a schedule for yourself to follow on a consistent basis work hand in hand to create amazing final work.
This past week Michael and I went to Mark’s Feed Store which was by far one of my favorite BBQ places of all time (consider that I live in a place where chain restaurants are everything; as a result, these incredible BBQ restaurants are a refreshing experience!)
After missing last week’s BBQ Thursday lunch where I made the mistake of ordered pizza one hour before lunch, I will never make that mistake again. This Thursday it was my time to seize the day. I looked forward to eating BBQ and satisfying my hungry stomach. Mark’s Feed did not fail to deliver. After eating the amazing buttermilk pie, honey wings, and brisket BBQ sandwich, I was full and ready to finish the rest of my day at V-Soft on a high note.
What happened behind the scenes leading up to this lunch experience however is as important as the meal itself. As I stated in my week 3 blog IT Intern Week 3: Food, Sleep, & Local Sites, I want to reemphasize the importance of getting sleep. There are some days when I stay up later than I should and do not get enough sleep; as a result, I would miss breakfast and go to work on an empty stomach – never a great experience.
This happened the week prior when I called Domino’s pizza and missed Michael's BBQ session as a result. With plenty of rest the night before, I can eat breakfast and hold off my hunger until the big BBQ meal planned during Thursday lunches.
After establishing a goal of consistently running every week, finally going to the track and hitting the gym once again feels great. I gave myself a full week of rest after going to the Bellarmine University gym for the first time in months – the soreness in my muscles the following days was too much to handle.
As my mom says, "Healthy mind, healthy body." I try to live by this motto everyday in and outside of the V-Soft office that allows me to perform my duties as a summer intern. Since every day at V-Soft is different than the next, a well-rested and prepared intern is the first step to success for any internship journey experience.
With only a few remaining weeks at V-Soft, I have many exciting things to look forward to: planning the V-Soft Cares Second Annual Charity Golf Scramble, visiting other numerous cities in the Midwest, and finally seeing my family. Overall, this past week has been a great ride full of projects, sightseeing, and stronger relationships.
Although there are several weeks left, my Bulldogs in the Bluegrass internship experience at V-Soft has truly flown by. As weeks keep passing, I continue learning more and more about what life is like after college and am looking forward to it!
Furthermore, with the huge company quarterly meeting coming up, I hope to discover more about the company - whether V-Soft's long term goals, performance within the market, or new strategies in the coming quarter - that will grow me into a more prepared and experienced summer intern and college student!
Here's My Previous 6 Weeks
Misael Cabrera is a 3rd year student at Yale University studying economics. He spends spare time working for the Yale Daily Newspaper, playing club soccer, and working at the MBA grad school. Misael hails from the beaches of Los Angeles, California where upon graduation hopes to further his education and join the ranks of economics movers and shakers in New York. He recently joined the V-Soft family for the summer as an intern and we're thankful to be a part of his journey.
