Throughout the course of this summer I’ve had the opportunity to intern with Trek10, a startup whose main facet involves consulting with companies who use Amazon Web Services (AWS); a cloud computing service that allows for massive data storage, real-time data analytics, app and website building, and a multitude of other features. When I first accepted this position, I was hesitant about two things. The first being that I had no experience with AWS, let alone any other cloud computing software. The pre-job training was intense, and a lot of new terminology and concepts were thrown my way. However, I was lucky enough to be working with some of the best and brightest in the field, as well as two of my good friends and fraternity brothers, Sam and Ashton, who were eager to make sure I knew what I was doing.

The second point of hesitation was that in 2011 South Bend was cited by Newsweek as one of the top 10 dying cities in the U.S. Why would I want to spend my summer somewhere like that? Well, this source of uncertainty is actually what enthralled me in my decision to take the position. I spoke with Roland Morin ’91 as he explained the revitalization efforts that companies like Trek10, Union Station, and Enfocus, just to name a few, were attempting to help South Bend.
During my first week, I noticed many things that might indicate a “dying” city; poor roads, abandoned buildings (one of which being the old Studebaker factory, whose economic aftermath after closing some 40 years ago is still felt to this day), and a homeless population. However, I also experienced first-hand these immense revitalization efforts which simply hearing about does no justice. Union Station, a former train station turned data hub and professional office building where Trek10 is located, has plans in the immediate future to renovate 800,000 square feet of the abandoned Studebaker factory in order to move its business there. Included in the new Union Station are classrooms, a workout facility, an auditorium, and a ton of new space for more tech-heavy companies, like Trek10, to call home. The hope behind moving to a larger facility is to attract ultimately, businesses with well-educated employees and higher paying jobs to kick-start the economy.
Also, South Bend initiated something that I had not experienced during past internships in different cities/counties; an intern “connect” program. With upwards of 80 interns in the South Bend/St. Joseph County area (of which about 10 were Wabash men), the County hosted and helped organize numerous events for us. We went to a Cubs game, a country concert, white water rafting, helped at a local food bank, and participated in networking events as part of the Young Professionals Network. Additionally, the program brought in a weekly speaker which included Trek10’s CEO and founder, Andy Warzon, as well as the well-received Mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg. This may have been one of my favorite events the program put on, as we heard talks and engaged in discussions about personal branding, methods for assessing businesses, how to go about bootstrapping your own business, and the countless initiatives, efforts, and programs that the city is tackling in order to bring life back to South Bend. Having such a well-rounded program that kept me engaged outside of work hours helped me truly see South Bend for what it is. I no longer see it as a dying city, as that implies South Bend is headed in a direction worse than its current state. Rather, I view South Bend as a growing city, easily observed through its efforts and successes in bringing and retaining talent from schools such as Notre Dame, Yale, and of course, Wabash. Additionally, there’s an atmosphere of optimism as its citizens all rally around and support their Mayor, placing their trust in a local government who’s already proven its capability in helping South Bend. I’ve never experienced such a high overall level of confidence from a community. Just about every person I talked to felt hopeful for the future of South Bend, given its recently bleak past. And to me, having the entire community believe in the future of the city is the most crucial aspect of growth.
In closing, I’d like to thank the Eli Lilly Endowment for funding opportunities as beneficial as the one I experienced this summer. Not only did I gain knowledge of cloud computing software and an insight into the hi-tech world unavailable in the classroom, but I was also able to be part of something bigger than myself. It felt incredible to know that by taking part in these intern connect events I was making a difference in South Bend. Though I’m not from the area, I plan on returning and continuously checking up on its progress as I feel like the part of the community after my eight weeks there. If the goal of the Endowment is to invest in Indiana, it’s doing a fantastic job by sending interns to places like South Bend and other Indiana communities where Wabash men can make a difference.

This summer, I had my professional head start through the Small Business Internship Fund organized by the Schroeder Center for Career Development , something I did not expect as a freshman. Although we were acquainted within the first few weeks of my freshman year, I never expected to have my first professional experience under the tutelage of Erik Ness, ‘94. Arriving at the Commodity Transportation Services office, I believed I was prepared for whatever the summer could throw at me. However, this was far from the truth. Not only was I expected to perform at the level of my peers, some whom were returning for their second summer with Erik Ness such as Derek Andre ‘16, but also to learn as much as I could about the industry.

Throughout my first few days, a feeling of nervousness and excitement was persistent, but after a week of work there was no time for insecurity or lack of confidence. I not only was expected to handle paperwork and analyze several carrier agreements, but I also had the opportunity to negotiate deals alongside Wabash alumni. The CTS office provided a perfect balance in many aspects, which helped maximize my contribution. Throughout the busy days of work, I felt a demanding office environment while also feeling comfortable to ask for help whenever needed. At times, a fellow broker and friend, Alan Ortiz ’17, and I found ourselves trying to find the right words to explain our internship experience, and although we enjoyed different qualities of our job, we both recognize the great learning experience that it was.

As time progressed, I felt the responsibility and duties increase dramatically, but, to my advantage I had been well prepared by that same team that demanded more of me. By the time my internship approached its last few weeks, I had gained confidence in my work, and this quality was a must. My very first call at CTS was far from successful, but after the hundreds of daily calls I had to make, I learned that practice does make perfection. The confidence I had gained communicating carried over with me whenever ideas and reports had to be presented. I had developed my skills so greatly that I will continue to work for CTS on campus. I am excited to see what the continuation of this experience will bring to my professional development.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Commodity Transportation Services for the opportunity I have been given, and of course to Erik Ness ‘94 who has been a great mentor. I would like to also thank the Small Business Internship Fund and Career Services office, as none of this would be possible without their help and willingness to invest in our professional development.

While undertaking my research internship with Professor Sara Drury, I found myself developing as both a writer and in my critical thinking skills.  These developments are exactly the reasons I applied for this internship.  My goal was to hone my writing skills, gaining precision.  Throughout my time at Wabash, the papers that I have written usually have a great thesis, but being able to be efficient with my writing to prove my points was a challenge.  I would often say to myself, “Oh, that sounds good, I’m going to put that down.”  I’ve learned this summer that method is not the way to write papers on any level.  I therefore had to develop my critical thinking skills to ensure that my writing was efficient and that I was clearly answering the research questions.

During this internship, my colleague Jack Kellerman and I analyzed deliberation transcripts that were conducted in a Biology class on the topic of climate change. We applied Goodnight’s theory of spheres of argumentation to form our thesis and analysis.  We were constantly referring to scholarly articles dealing with understanding the spheres of argumentation and their role in deliberation and diving into these transcripts to prove our arguments.

I learned a great deal throughout the duration of this internship.  As previously mentioned, this internship has given me the ability to write effectively and to think critically, which in the future I will apply to other professional and academic experiences.  Additionally, I developed my time management skills.  I learned how to effectively manage my time to ensure that I am meeting my deadlines.  As I mentioned earlier, Jack and I were constantly in the transcripts, and in the early part of the internship it was challenging to form a clear thesis and find evidence.  Professor Drury kept challenging us to create better arguments and prove our points.  I believe I can speak for Jack and say that we both were able to increase our ability to read and use what we read to interpret the deliberation texts.

This internship had both rewarding and challenging aspects, but what surprised me the most, was how quickly we were able to write 30 pages. The research position has also taught me to think differently in comparison to the CIBE internship I did earlier this summer.  I learned how to analyze texts and draw conclusions, which is a skill I can take with me wherever I go.  I am grateful to have had this opportunity, and the skills that I have learned in this internship will be used for the rest of my time at Wabash and in my professional career.

**Thanks to Wabash College and Division II for sponsoring this internship**