Day 2: Computer Training

Made it to day 2 and I got to sleep in... until 5:45 a.m! It's really fun right now though getting to see all of the interns during breakfast and talking to them about their perspective of the internship so far. Every time I turn around, I feel like I am getting to know someone new and learning more about golf (thank goodness) and my tasks for the summer. It's wonderful!

Our Ox and Tank vehicle binders.

Today was a long one; we were at headquarters for 13 hours. The day started with our vehicle assignments. We were the only team who get two trucks instead of a truck and a Yukon. It kind of stinks because it's going to be a tight fit on travel days with all eight team members. We won't have any room to spread out, but thankfully we have the shortest driving distance of all the teams. Plus, the vehicles are very, very nice!

We went over the driving rules and all of the paper work involved and then we had 18-wheeler truck drivers come talk to us about how to maneuver the trucks with the 16ft. trailer attached.

After lunch we split up again and the comm interns spent the entire afternoon and into the evening--I'm talking noon to 7:30 p.m.--learning more about the computer programs, how to write in AP for tournaments and more about photography. Yesterday was nothing compared to the amount of information that we received today. Overwhelmed is again an understatement.

At one point, we were asked to write a typical news story we'll write every day during a tournament. I had to ask my other comms intern, Michael, to help me understand scoring, how to distinguish the different numbers on the scorecard and the different terminology when talking about scores. I even had to ask him to remind me about the difference between a birdie and a bogey--my dad would be so disappointed. I am so thankful though that we're paired together! He was super patient and helped me finally start to understand the jargon that I had been reading the past few weeks!

When we got to go eat dinner--by the way, they have some really good food! Lots of steamed veggies!--the conversation was dominated by stories from our teams operations interns. While we did the computer stuff, they were actually in the cares learning how to drive with a trailer attached to them. Tomorrow, it's our turn for driving school, which I'm so excited about! Just to be outside for a day is going to be wonderful!

On our ride back to the hotel (full-time staffers take turns driving us in the Yukons), we all started talking about how our generation says "like" so much. It was such a random topic and there were members from different teams in the car that I didn't know, yet we were all dying laughing by the time we got to the hotel. I couldn't help but realize what an amazing group of people I am surrounded by, both the interns and full-time staffers. The fact that we all still had a smile on our face after an exhausting 13 hour day says a lot about this company and the people that make up the organization. I feel so privileged to be a part of this group and have this experience! It makes me even more determined to fully understand the golf terminology and computer programs! Tomorrow is another day... I'm ready to go!

Internship Day 1: Learning the Ropes

Wow! What a day! My alarm went off at 5am and I am just now ready to turn out the lights. I got up extra early because the hotel ran out of hot water during our recruitment weekend, so I decided to play it safe. Therefore I got down to breakfast super early and got to meet a few more people and get 3 cups of coffee in my system before we headed to headquarters (HQ). While we were waiting to be picked up, my entire team was able to group-up and talk for a little bit. If this morning was any indication, my team is going to have an amazing summer. We were all very upbeat and joking around, which, if you know me, humor is a key component in my life.

When we got to HQ, we dove straight into training materials and golf. Training materials: check! Golf and rules officiating: I have a lot to learn! While most interns were laughing at the "basic" definitions of golf terms, I was frantically writing down all of the jargon that will make up my next two and a half months. From how to take relief from a cart path versus a water hazard to the 4 parts of a golf course, the more I wrote down, the more I realized how in-over-my-head I truly was. Everyone told me that as long as I have an open mind and am willing to learn, I'll have no problem. Gosh, I hope they're right, because I am already rereading my notes!

After lunch, the communications interns split off from the group and learned some basic InDesign (so glad I took a class on it last semester) and photography skills and learned how to set up a tournament in the software on the computer. The tournament software is a little confusing, but I'm hoping by week three we're able to buzz through it! I feel better knowing that I mastered Meet Manager and Team Manager (the programs used by swim teams and just about the most difficult software to understand), so I'm determined and confident that I'll get the hang of this new one. After the computer work, we went outside and practiced shooting golfers in motion. I am SO excited because we are using Canon Rebel T3i's and I am hoping to buy a Rebel T5i in the fall, so this will be crash course on the camera brand and its functions!

All of the clothes we received today. I forgot to include my
 sunglasses, but I'll be wearing those every day too!

After dinner, it was Christmas in Braselton! We got all of our clothing that we'll wear for the internship. We even got a rain suit, which isn't pictured. It was hard to get everything from HQ back to the hotel, but we somehow managed. Now the question is how to squeeze it into my suitcase!

Even with the long hours today, I managed to get a full workout in! I'm feeling good, yet, with the amount of things jumbled in my mind right now, I can't believe that I don't have more to say. I am really overwhelmed right now, but tomorrow is another day! I'm just so glad that this adventure is finally underway! It's going to be a great summer!

Starting the Process

I pack my suitcase (very last minute and packed tight, might I add), said my goodbyes to my family and friends and moved into the Country Inn and Suites this afternoon. It's the night before my first official day of training. As I sit here in my hotel room after mingling with the other interns in the lobby for a few hours, the anxiety that I have felt over the past few months is at a simmer--it was at a boiling point while I was packing.

I've been so nervous about pretty much everything that this internship entailed. Would I get along with my teammates? Would I be able to keep up with golf jargon since I have no previous knowledge of the sport? Would I be able to keep up with all of the publications? Even the smaller, non-internship things had crossed my mind. Would I be able to make it to church each week? Would I have time to workout?

When I got to the hotel this afternoon, I immediately saw a girl that I met at the Intern Recruiting Weekend (IRW) and we fell into an easy conversation. My nerves were slightly eased as I settled into my room and headed back down to the lobby to wait for more interns to arrive and hopefully find my teammates that I will be working with for the next two and a half months.

When my first teammate, Michael, got to the hotel we started talking about the summer and what we were expecting. Michael is the other Communications Intern on Team 3 so he and I will be tag-teaming on everything for the summer. I asked what one of his concerns for the summer was and he said he was worried about having time to go to church. I asked, he's catholic. Having someone else that hoped and wanted to go to church: mark that part off my anxiety list. 

When I finally made my way up to my room, I met my roommate, Bridget, who is also on my team. We started talking and she explained that she just finished the spring internship--in my mind that meant that I could get the inside scoop from someone who just experienced all of this! Bridget finally said that she needed to go workout before it got any later. Having someone else that wanted to stay in shape and workout with me: anxiety levels keep going down!

After ironing my clothes for tomorrow and figuring out when to wake up--my alarm is going off at 5 a.m. tomorrow--I think I am finally realizing that I can do this. These next few days and weeks are going to be tough! I have a lot to learn, but I can tell just from the two of my teammates that this is going to be an amazing summer and that God is definitely looking out for me! Not only were my prayers were answered about having someone on my team to go to church and workout with, but I was lucky enough to get this internship! I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to work as a summer intern and I am so excited to get this summer underway!

Adventure is Out There

Tomorrow I move into my first hotel to start my summer long internship. I can't believe this opportunity is finally here; it's been a long time coming. I first learned of the company at UGA's career fair in September, I turned in my application and had my first round interview in January and participated in the weekend long second round interview in March. Now, eight months later, I can't help but think of all the experiences that have lead me to this moment. From the people that I've spoken with and the dedication of every employee, I know that I found a company whose values align with my own.

While the excitement and honor of receiving this internship have me ready to get on the road, I can't help but think of all that I am giving up to have this experience. I'm giving up attending my friend's wedding, my best friend's 21st birthday celebration and all of the wedding showers for my only sibling. That last point really has me second guessing if I made the right decision to accept a traveling internship for the entire summer. My brother will only get married once and I'm going to miss all of the last minute planning, taste testing and shower. It's a hard thing to come to terms with since I am close to his fiance and am in the wedding party.

I took this internship as a way to expend my personal knowledge, meet new people and travel to some amazing golf courses. It's hard to choose which thing outweighs the other, but I know that God has led me to this moment. He has a plan and somehow, I know it will all work out. So, I am choosing to go to sleep early tonight and get ready for a long summer of early mornings, golf terminology and building some amazing relationships! Here goes nothing!

Rejection

Do you ever go through situations and you're left asking yourself if you have any true friends? Now there are moments when friends aren't at their best or they say something hurtful; I'm not talking about those once in a blue moon type of situations. I'm referring to the people who constantly leave you out of plans (even though they make the plans and invite other people right in front of you) and act like they did nothing wrong. I'm talking about the people who make you feel horrible about yourself and leave you just wanting to escape reality and leave them all behind. No matter how hard you try to keep up conversation or help them with things, encounters with these people leave you feeling empty and worthless.

I feel like I end up around these people a lot. I seem to always be forgotten. To be honest, it really stinks. Just writing down these thoughts brings the feeling back and I want to break down and cry, which I refuse to cry over people who don't deserve my tears.

I can't say that it is all their fault; I'm not perfect either, but I just wish they could see how hurtful they're being. I know, I sound like a 5 year old, but here's my point. Being left out or excluded really stinks, like a lot. No matter who you are or what you're being excluded from, it feels bad. So, if we know it hurts others so much, why do we constantly choose to leave others out thinking we'll be better off without them? I know that I would probably have a better time if some people were not around, however I physically cannot exclude them because I don't want them to suffer this horrible feeling of rejection. Yet, at the same time does that mean I have to suffer through something with a person I don't really care for?

I don't know what the answer or middle ground is. However, I can take a hint when people don't want me around. And I've just decided that I'm better off without them. I want to surround myself with people who love and care about me and who can make me a better person. I have to rely on The Lord to bring those people into my life and I have to keep my eyes open and my heart washed clean so that when these people do walk into my life I can welcome them with open arms.

Swollowing Your Pride

I'm a do-it-all type of person! I hate admitting that I can't do something or figure something out; if I don't understand, I ask for clarification so that I can have full understanding. My dad always said, "Never pay for something if you can do it yourself." He was referring to handy work around our house, but, for me, it translated to "Never ask someone else to do something that you can do, but are unwilling to do."

I have struggled with this. A lot.

It is extremely difficult for me to delegate work to others, especially when I have the ability to do it myself. What's even more difficult is when I work hard to do something, but, even after all the stress and planning, someone else's idea is better than mine. This last point is what I want to talk about.

I have been working all week to design a t-shirt for an organization that I am on the executive board for. I've been sharing my ideas with the two recruitment chairs of the organization because the shirts will be for recruitment purposes and I wanted their opinions of the designs. At one point, one of them asked for the design file so she could play around with the design.... Honestly, I had no problem with that! So I sent it to her, she tweaked it and, when she sent it back, both the other recruitment chair and myself liked it better than any other design I had made. I should be happy, right? We finally got a design! But, I wasn't happy. I was mad at myself for not being able to create the "winning" design. I had the ability to create it and I failed.

Now, we're not even using her design. The t-shirt company is creating a design for us, but my frustration over the design (not the girl who created it, because I love her! She's awesome!) still lingers. As I write this, I am able to see how hard I am being on myself. It's ok that I didn't "see" the design potential. The executive board acts as a team, with each member having a different expertise and I am happy in the end that we were able to pull together to create a design. I need to learn and realize that asking for help is just as hard accepting help for me.

 We are selfish and prideful beings. It's not the way God made us, necessarily, but it's part of being human. The Lord gave us the ability to hold relationships with people because He knew that we would need help in our earthly lives. Let us rejoice in this gift! May I learn to accept this gift every day and praise The Lord for surrounding me with such talented peopled!

Being at Peace

Have you ever felt that line between complete serenity and reality? I did this morning. I was sitting on the back porch of the beach house that my friends and I are renting for spring break. It was sunny, but cold; I was curled up in a chair with yoga pants and a fuzzy sweatshirt reading Tuesdays With Morrie. I stopped reading for a moment, closed my eyes and tilted my head towards the sun.

As I sat there all alone with nothing in particular on my mind, I fell into a peaceful state. The wind blew through my hair and against my face. I could hear the ocean waves crashing against the white sandy beach just over the sand dunes. It was there, with my eyes closed and nothing on my mind that I felt completely at peace. Yet, on the other side of the house, I could hear a bulldozer beeping as it backed up. It was this strange balance between ultimate relaxation and reality. The sound of the ocean was pulling me toward surrendering my worries and doubts to the wind, to carry them far away. Then the buzzing of construction workers reminded me that I still have responsibilities and uncertainty in my life. It was a cruel tug of war game on my heart and mind.

The desires that I have to make a difference and impact the lives of others is so real, yet the struggles and hardships of life stand before me like a brick wall. I've climbed over many of these walls before and I am confident that I will in the future. Yet, these walls are still luminous in their size and structure. The moments of complete peace that I felt this morning sitting on my porch help keep me in motion. They remind me that although we are going through these defining, sometimes difficult, moments, we have the option to be at complete peace with God, ourselves and others if we so choose. It is choosing to be happy and serene that is the most challenging part. It is a hard decision, because life makes it hard to always be at peace. Temptation, jealousy and anger are always looming. Remembering to hear the ocean through the construction of those brick walls is the goal of my days and thoughts. It's a way of life and a way to lead a happy life. I choose that life, the life with The Lord as my light, and with that, I am at peace.