Building Bridges dot dot dot

So far I'm enjoying the Brogan. Uninstalling software, replacing computers, learning more about servers, networks, domains, and the cubicle experience. It's been a change of pace for me but nonetheless an experience I'm warming up to more and more. One of the key experiences I find, whether here or in everyday life, is the art of building relationships. Whether you are networking -speaking socially of course - or simply building a good bridge with peers and mentors, it is important never to burn those bridges and know how to keep them sturdy.

One way I believe is to ask questions. Usually people are very proud of their wisdom and they can't wait to share it with you so I see that when I ask questions people not only see that I'm interested, but also see that I want to gain more knowledge. Another key thing is to be genuine. We had a speaker in Mrs. Raulston's class last Monday that emphasized how important it was to be real because people can usually see through a facade. I strive for that, because even if it's the case where you don't like a particular person, its still important to be civil. So far, these little pieces of advice have worked well and I hope to not only build more bridges, but also to maintain them through the years. You never know just when you are going to need to cross one.

My First DAY!

I had my first day at The Brogan. It was very interesting. I got to meet the entire staff of the museum and I had my own little cubicle where I would be on call for any IT related problems that the staff would have. Although the day was not particularly busy, there were many things to learn about their system. For example, there are several reasons why a printer would not be working and a list of methods to test things like connections and the status of the jobs it is reading. So far my schedule consists of me being there Monday through Wednesday in the afternoons. I'm excited to see what more I can learn and what new problems I will be able to solve.

So far my learning objectives consist of me being able to solve any problems that arise in the most efficient manner. I think the way to make sure I am successful in reaching those objectives is to be a good listener, and a great learner. As I mentioned before, there is a lot of information to retain and many different technical difficulties that may occur so I have to keep a very focused and absorbing mind. That said, tomorrow is my second day, we shall see what I will learn then.

The BROGAN!

So far, all I know is that I'm going to be an intern for the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. I know that I'll probably be assisting the faculty at the Museum with IT related problems. What the problems are, and who I'll be working with is not clear as of yet, but I'm awaiting an email from Mr. Keith Hodge to set up a meeting for all the interns. I'm excited to see what my responsibilities will be and what I will be able to offer Mr. Hodge and the rest of the museum's faculty.

So far, I've taken to just learning a bit more about the museum. For example, they have two facebook groups and a very interesting website that details much of what you can find in the museum as well as what they represent. It was very exciting to find out that one of their current exhibits is centered around surrealism (my favorite genre in art). All of this information just makes me look forward to working in that environment.

06/05/08 UPDATE! I met with Mr. Hodge, an ex intern for my instructor, and the internship seemed very exciting. I would pretty much be at the museum on call for any IT related problems. I'll learn more about this next week. So far, I have high hopes for the experience that this brings along...then again there is parking downtown, which I've already learned can be quite the hassle.