Culture is everything

Week two is in the books! Work is slowly but surely beginning to pick up as we engage in summer planning and project implementation. One thing I've come to learn is that culture is of great importance in Milwaukee.

The people, the sights, the food and beverages and the environment are all factors in the vibrant culture of this city. Today, I had a chance to indulge in one prominent part of Milwaukee culture: a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game.

Although this was not my first baseball game, it was my first Major League Baseball event. And geez, I sure have been missing out!

Growing up in Ohio, I'm surrounded by MLB teams. However, I never took the time to follow teams or attend a game. Coming to Milwaukee for the summer, I made it a goal to visit Miller Park at least once, since it was a short 10 minute drive away. ***Note: I still have not chosen my 'team', so feel free to give me your tidbits and suggestions on who to cheer for.

Don't take your foot off the gas pedal

I have a need for speed. Not only do I have an atypical enjoyment of NASCAR, but I also enjoy a fast-paced, agile environment. Completing my first week at Bader Rutter, I have found my desire to stay busy and be involved is in its practice laps.

As a high type-A personality, I am very eager to get involved and stay busy through the duration of each day. However, as I begin to analyze the "race" ahead, the level of activity I seek may not always be available. In the agency, I am just beginning my laps while others on the PR team have completed many. It is difficult for me to join in the middle of their race while I am warming up my tires.

However, even with less work to complete right now, I have learned to not take my foot off the gas pedal. After conversing with Greg Nickerson, Bader Rutter's chief executive officer, I have found insight for the theme of this blog post.

More than just a name plate

Day two, complete! If you have ever started a new job, you know that the first few days are very procedural and introductory. Of course, I completed the standard paperwork and got comfortable at my desk and in the office building. However, these couple of days have been more significant than just receiving a name plate.

One important aspect of joining a new company is connecting with the staff. I have spent nearly half of my time these past two days meeting with many different employees I will be collaborating with during this summer. From meeting with members of my DOW Agrosciences PR team to conversing with lead management staff of Bader Rutter, I am eager to begin a variety of projects related to my passions in communication and agriculture!

No matter what role each of these people hold, they are equally important for the success of Bader Rutter and the company's clientele.

I am excited to see what will happen these next few weeks. Not only am I looking forward to making connections in the office, but also with this outstanding group on a social level. My roommate is also an intern at Bader Rutter and we look forward to exploring Milwaukee together! We are both participating on the company's volleyball and softball teams for agency leagues. It will certainly be a fun experience and with a positive outlook, we both are bound to have an amazing summer.

It is time to push myself so the experience is more meaningful than just a name plate. Will you do the same for your summer opportunities?

Caroline

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Expectations aren't always what they seem

This past month, I have had many expectations.

• I would complete my third year as a college student and be ready to move on.
• Some of my closest friends would graduate from The Ohio State University and leave me. Forever.
• I would come home for a week of randomness and running around with my family since it is one of the busiest times of the year -- planting season.
• I would move out to Milwaukee, Wis. for a seasonal internship with Bader Rutter.
• I would kick start my roles on the Student Advisory Team for Agriculture Future of America (AFA).

However, I did not fully meet these expectations. 

I consider myself a fast-paced, goal-oriented person and halfway through this school year, I was so eager to move forward into my senior year! However, now that realization has hit, this expectation of being ready for "the end" has become overwhelming. 

My sister is also moving forward to her senior year of high school and is just as anxious, yet uncertain as I am!

This expectation has made me realize that I shouldn't be so eager to move forward and should embrace the things in my present life, not just the future.

One thing I find increasingly difficult is saying goodbye to friends and loved ones when they move on to different phases of life.

I discovered that a lot of my friends were a part of the 2013 graduating class at Ohio State. This transition has been difficult to grasp and at times, I had selfish feelings that they were "leaving me". 

Now, I have seen that expectation is not just them leaving, but my friends are moving forward towards exciting opportunities that they are interested in sharing with me along the way! Because of today's technology, I can keep in touch in a plethora of ways. 

Even though I am a senior, it is now my time to embrace that opportunity.

Sometimes, I stress out more about coming home than I do about a final exam for class. I always expect that work on the farm with the family will be a chaotic mess -- half the time, it can be! 

However, this past week at home was more humbling than hectic. I spent a lot of time catching up with old friends and family, and even though planting season is always busy, dad made time to relax in the evenings while I was around.

My family has become increasingly more important to me and the expectation I had that a week at home would be "crazy" was not met.

It is true, I did move out to Wisconsin and am currently preparing for my first week of work with Bader Rutter! 

My internship is focused on public relations and I anticipate to learn a lot this summer! However, my expectations for this new experience are yet to be proven.

It is difficult for me to make expectations for the position until I start into different tasks and projects. I have discovered that if I do not have underlying expectations, I will be able to attain more value from the work I will do.

I will continue to evaluate this concept as the summer progresses.

In addition to my new internship, I will begin my role in a new leadership position for AFA.

On the Student Advisory Team (SAT), I help in promoting this national program for youth in agriculture. Each month, SAT meets to prepare for the Leaders Conference that will be held in November, by working to create and expand industry partnerships, advocating to students on college campuses, and preparing programming for other AFA functions such as AFA ONTAP webinars and leaders institutes. 

My expectations for this role have continued to change as I learn more about what I will do for the industry and program. 

These different "expectations" have allowed me to see that expectations are not always as they seem, and shouldn't be. I am continuing to learn that perhaps expectations are simply a way to process our ideas and seeing the potential we have ahead. Things are not always as we anticipate.