A Summer Riptide Month (Part One)
Water can make a road slippery, rust a ship, and damage a basement. Water can also provide enjoyment for swimmers, reflect beauty, and sustain life. You could say that water is highly skilled. It knows what to do in every situation without being told. And, it does it the same way every time. It is reliable. Mapping this to our summer interns, let’s explore in this multi-part series skills developed in Agile’s Summer Riptide program.
Skills and Testimonials
Though nothing can compare to the skill of water, this year’s group of summer interns are coming pretty close. Reflecting on their first month in the Summer Riptide, here are direct quotes about the technical skills and business acumen they’ve developed:
“I really expanded my knowledge of coding and data analysis, given that I've only taken one introductory computer science class.”
“I have learned to learn more efficiently, to communicate better, and to work more diligently.”
“I have been empowered to explore different fields beyond technology and have widened my pursuits in different fields.”
“I have been exposed to some cutting-edge developments in the business world.”
“I learned Search Engine Optimization and improved website readability.”
It takes a nurturing environment to allow for skills development. None of this happens by accident. There is intentionality behind every aspect of the Summer Riptide. As the intern manager, I must deliberately create intentions throughout the summer. These intentions create an environment of growth. Recall, here’s what they said last year about the skills they developed in the Summer Riptide:
“Reflecting back on my first month at Agile Rainmakers, I feel as if the nervousness I once experienced at the beginning of my internship has dissolved and swiftly transformed into growth and confidence that I have developed in a collaborative, enlightening, and empowering internship environment.”
“…There is no problem that cannot be resolved with communication. This lesson especially resonates with me because it’s simultaneously simple and powerful. The implied action is clear: communicate.”
“…I have learned that I am personally inspired by making a difference. At Agile, we only partner with clients in which we can definitively add value. There are no projects that do not contribute to the success of our clients, and I think this is why I am loving the work so much. Our deliverables are not a drop in the ocean, but much more like the hose watering and cultivating a garden…I love knowing that our work, and thus we, make a difference.”
Wow, A Truly Exceptional Riptide
Skill development is crucial to anyone’s future in business and life. The opportunity of an internship is to allow students to develop numerous interpersonal and technical skills that they can leverage for a lifetime. The challenge is to create an environment that allows for that to happen while also adding real value for your company and clients. This requires creating intentions throughout.
The miracle of water is it doesn’t need planning, preparation, and intentions. Water knows exactly what to do in every situation. We are not so adept. Bring intentionality to every aspect of your internship – whether you are an intern manager or an intern – and enjoy the wave of new skills that flow forth from an exceptional riptide.
Here's to you and your awesome future.
Until then, keep your feet on the board and keep riding your wave!
Robert J. Khoury
CEO Agile Rainmakers