Mid-Term Evaluations

This week we were asked to discuss a few things with our supervisors regarding the internship and how we are progressing with things. Let me just first say that this was very insightful and helpful, and I am appreciative of the feedback. In general, I always grateful for constructive criticism and feedback (even if it doesn't seem like it at the time I receive it). I was getting ready to leave town for the weekend and sent the evaluation to my supervisor to fill out and get back to me.

I was in the middle of NE Oregon when I saw an email that she had received/solicited feedback from the people I've been working with and that she was wanting to talk. I called her and let her know that I was driving and had all the time that she needed to talk. We ended up talking for about 2 hours total, with a small break between so that she could wrap some other things up. The conversation went very well, and she had great feedback from those I have worked with.

Some of the things that we talked about was the idea of being curious, and to ask questions of those that have experience. I sometimes feel like I have something that I need to prove, or that I need to be seen as someone that has training and knowledge in the field of study that I am in. While it may be true that I do have some training, experience and knowledge, it is also true that I can't possibly have the insight that someone in the field for 10-20 years would have. Thus, the idea of being curious and asking why they do things they do or how they came to that conclusion, or what would they do differently, or in a different circumstance. This was some of the feedback from both my supervisor and those that I have been working with.

Following up/checking in is another thing that sometimes I have a hard time doing. As a grad student/employee/husband/new-father sometimes I get busy and become forgetful of the things that I have going on, and I forget to check in on the assignments that I have and letting people know my progress. I often just work on things, but need to make sure that I am keeping abreast those with whom I am working so they can know I am in fact working on things, and that they and the assignment haven't been forgotten.

We talked about many other things, but overall these were the ideas that stood out to me, that I need to remember that I can ALWAYS learn something from those I am working with and that I need to be better at staying in the loop, and keep others in the loop. The process was very helpful for me, and I believe has cause me to try a bit harder... hopefully it shows.