Thank you all for amazing first posts. Keep it up!

Here's your second question:

What do you think will be your toughest encounter during your time here at SHM?
How will you handle it?

First Week(s)

Well, I have worked here for only two weeks, but already I feel like less of an outsider than after several months at my last co-op. That is really the most surprising thing to me, just how welcoming and friendly everyone is. At my last co-op, I always felt like someone who was nothing more than a person at a desk, one who would leave in a few months and be forgotten. Here, however, it seems like I am actually a part of the company. Also, I had no idea that Todd taught UNIV 101 at Drexel.

These first two weeks have been mostly about learning my way around the office and the computer systems in use. One of my major goals here is to learn everything I can about managing computer networks and servers, and to that end I have already gotten a huge start. However, as always, I am sure there is a lot more for me to learn, and I look forward to it all.

All in all, I'm really looking forward to the rest of my time here at SHM, far more than at any job I've held before. I am certain that as the weeks go on, I'll be able to learn more and more.

~!Adam

My First Week!

During my first week at SHM I have surely learned a lot already. After the first day here I was taught about different projects and programs going on in the QI department (which is where I am working). At the beginning of it all I was still really unsure of what exactly goes on in my department but after hearing all about it I have a whole new outlook and understanding of what "the center" really does. It is super exciting because it all ties directly into the hospital settings and more closely even with nursing which is my major. I find it very interesting to see everything from an outside point of view as to what is going on in hospital settings rather than when I normally am actually in all the action during clinical rotations. So far I really like this point of view in the sense that they really work hard to prevent things that occur often in the hospital atmosphere through the projects and work they do.

I'm really excited to be working here and how helpful and friendly everyone in the office is. Everyone I have met so far genuinely wants to make this a beneficial experience for us all here which makes this even more enjoyable for all of us co-ops. It's nice to see our supervisors put as much trust as they do in us and really do allow us to get into doing some of the really interesting work that other co-op students might not get to experience at other sites.

Overall this seems to be a great environment and am really glad that I actually am super excited to come into work every morning because of the great atmosphere! It is going to be a fun and productive 6 months!

-Ashley

The First Week

I already sort of answered the first question when Todd asked me earlier in the week at the membership meeting, “What has been the biggest surprise?” I told him how the atmosphere isn’t overly businesslike, to which I received a round of laughs and comments saying how I would find out soon how businesslike the atmosphere can get. I tried to clarify what I meant, but just kept digging the hole I was in even deeper.

But after that meeting, Todd came up to me and asked what I meant about businesslike. I told him I meant more that he wouldn’t be riding everyone to get their work done and create stress. He told me that even though it’s fun and lighthearted a good amount of the time, there are times when you have to be on top of some people to get the best work. The key to a successful and fun office, Todd said, is knowing when you need to get on someone’s case and when it’s time to back off and let them do their thing.

That has been my biggest surprise here. How in tune everyone in the office is with each other and how each person knows how to work extremely well with everyone else. The office runs smoothly even when it is stressful because there is such a great team at SHM filled with people who not only work with you, but want to know you and help you in any way they can.

In the next six months I hope to learn how to be a contributing part of this great team, and gain the knowledge and experience to work that way in any job I have in the future. I hope to learn everything I can about marketing and SHM, but more importantly, I want to learn how to generate an amazing businesslike work atmosphere like the one here at SHM. I’m excited to be here and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

My First Week

After attending the lunches we had prior to our first day of work I became extremely excited to start at SHM. I really appreciated how everyone was so friendly and welcoming. It was evident to me that everyone was eager to help us make this a beneficial learning experience. 

So far I think my first week has been going pretty well. I haven't encounter many problems yet because we have been becoming familiar with all the programs and projects that we will be working on during our time here. I think what has surprised me the most is the amount of responsibility I will be given. I can see that I will get to be involved in the projects going on as well as create projects of my own. I really appreciate SHM giving me this opportunity to take on these responsibilities because I will be able to have a hands on experience. I was also surprised by the amount of trust that everyone has in us. The fact that we are able to become so involved makes me a little nervous, but I am eager to get started and learn. (I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of free food that we get!)

In the next six months I hope to gain a lot of insight and knowledge from the people I will be working with and the projects I will be working on. I have already begun to gain a lot of insight from my supervisors during our Personal 101's that we have daily. I want to enhance my marketing skills while I am here and apply the concepts that I have learned in classes. Because I am also a Finance major, I hope to incorporate that into my experience here as well.

I am so excited to get started and I think that I will have an amazing experience here at SHM!! It's a really great feeling to get up in the morning and be excited to go to work.

First Week !

I was not surprised by one thing in the office this first week. BUT many things that make me feel amazed about the SHM folks. To me, it is so amazing to know:

-Bob is a great bicyclist

-Ashley was an athlete in college

-Todd hates eggs

-Debra listens to Snoop Dog (haha) and her husband is a musician

-Jade is known as the funniest girl around and she grew up in Singapore

-Meredith is obsessed with Glee

- Dee Dee run a childcare center at home

-Elaine doesn’t like the Café-teria

-Kim is a gig

-Taylor lives a block away and will come to feed DD in the long weekend

- etc.

I know that the list will go longer and thicker in the next 6 month. That is also what I hope to achieve besides getting valuable and handy experiences (which I’m sure I will) when I’m here. I feel amazed how the whole office know well about each other and share things in life, which makes me want to share a lot about me with them as well. Happy to be part of this family J  

-Thu

Welcome Everyone!!

Hi Adam!
Hi Ashley!
Hi Greg!
Hi Jackie!
Hi Thu!

Welcome to SHM, and Collective Reality - what is bound to be your favorite blog for the next six months.

For your first post - answer the following questions:

What surprised you during your first week (or two weeks, Adam) here at SHM?
What do you hope to learn in the next six months?