LINK Internship Project
For my internship project, I decided to make a top ranked pack comparison spreadsheet. I compared 2 different kinds of packs; backpacking packs and hydration packs and between these 3 pack companies; Osprey, Gregory, and Arc'teryx arguably have some of the best packs on the market, and I thought it would be interesting to compare the packs' retail prices, sizes, colors, prominent features, and activities it is primarily used for. In the future, if osprey would like to expand upon this and send it to some of their retail stores around the nation, customers will know what they are buying compared to other top ranked packs.
Final LINK Reflection:
Honestly, interning at Osprey Packs in Cortez, CO was a lot different than I had imagined. Prior to my first day at the headquarters, I envisioned a big building with people scrambling all over the place, and a lot of commotion between people. However, when I first arrived at Osprey, I realized that my assumptions were far from close. The building was relatively small and only ~50 people. It was great to not get overwhelmed on the first day of work. Everyone was very friendly to me and welcomed me as I first entered the building. After a week of settling into my new home for the next 3 weeks, I became more relaxed and sociable with other employees and employers at Osprey. It was fun to talk about similar interest including climbing, skiing, biking, etc. Most of the people I worked with had similar interests with me, so it was easy to get along with them. Truthfully, there was a lot of work I was NOT excite about like relinking hundreds of documents, unboxing endless shelves of pack parts and resizing photoshop images. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to be educated about a lot of backpacks, and future packs for osprey along with marketing meetings for the company. Not only that, but I was able to help almost every single department at Osprey, which was awesome! From quality and repairs (Q&R) to sales to marketing to front office training, to dealer and customer service, and more. It was great to piece these departments together and see how contingent everybody is on each other. It made me realize that running a big business requires a LOT of teamwork and effort from everybody in the company. This internship made me appreciate the business more a long with all big outdoor corporations. We all see how great a product looks like but never really know what goes into making it appear in front of you on a shelf in a store, all around the world! So thank you Osprey for teaching valuable life-long lessons, I know I will cherish these memorable moments forever.
Week 2 Reflection:
Going into my second week working at Osprey Packs, I was much more confident. During my first week, I was a bit shy, timid, and uncomfortable. Most of that was from being in an environment I was not acustomized to. I have had hardly any work experience, especially in the outdoor industry. Of course, I am passionate about being outside in nature, but I haven't had any past experience working for an outdoor company, or any interaction with people in big corporations. So, I walked into my first day of my second week (6th day) with my head held up high and confident; ready for whatever they had me do. Most of the work I was doing on my second week was relinking documents on a computer, and helping out quality and repairs (Q&R) with sorting pack parts, and unboxing new items. However, later in the week, some sales reps from the northwest came down to the Osprey Headquarters here in Cortez to discuss new products. I was lucky enough to sit in on this meaning! It was great listening to the interaction between people about future pack development, seeing prototypes, and giving critical feedback on the product design. Once again, of course any intern is going to have to go through that grunt work and basic, mindless work to help benefit a company, but the things you will get out of it are priceless. I have learned a lot in these past couple of weeks about myself, about what I would be more interested in college, what I wouldn't be interested in, and how team work MATTERS in the real world A LOT in order to be successful. Until next week........
Week 1 Reflection:
Overall, in my first week of LINK with Osprey Packs, I learned a lot! Every day for me has been different. I have been shadowing and helping people with jobs and projects with customer and dealer service, the front desk, the quality and repairs team, the marketing and business industry, and more. It's been great moving around a lot and seeing the company as a whole, not just one particular section. It's interesting to see how the process works here, from the initial product sketches and designs to revising it, to marketing it, to selling it, and through the rest of a large cycle. In honesty, some of the work here has been tough like sorting bins and bins of buckles and straps or tearing apart dozens of unrepairable backpacks, but of course everyone has to go through that hard, initial work. When I'm not doing physical work, I'm either listening to how people to their jobs, answering calls on the reception line, or observing presentations in little meetings at Osprey. Even though Osprey is such a world wide known business, it doesn't feel so big once you start working with the Team Members. The 50 or so of us work together, like a team, to continuously make Osprey successful. Because with great products, you need great team work. I am anxious about my next week at Osprey, and will see what work they will have me do next! Until next week's reflection..... :)
Day 1:
The first day of my internship was a great introduction to Osprey Packs. First, I met the CEO of Osprey, Tom Barney at Durango Joe's and he drove me to Cortez (about 45 minutes away) to where the headquarters is. It was great getting to know Mr. Barney on the ride to Cortez and talking about our life stories. He told me a lot about the business, including why it was located in Cortez, when it was founded, when he took over the business, and much more! Once we arrived at Osprey Packs, Mr. Barney gave me a tour of the headquarters, and introduced me to mostly everyone working in the business. Then, Jenna, an employee of the human resources team (HR) had me sign more documents to get squared away with my internship. Next, we watched the 40th anniversary video of Osprey Packs and immediately after Jenna gave me a free, new Osprey Pack! (I am wearing it above.) After my introduction and tour of the headquarters, I shadowed Chris, a man that works on the new ideas and models of pack ideas. He showed me what his job was and how he communicates with people overseas, the people who make prototypes of the pack. It was a very interesting and engaging hour. I finished up the day by working with Joel, who works with the Quality and Repairs team (Q and R). I helped him sort all kinds of buckels and straps in to appropriate bins. So, overall, my first day was great! I feel much more comfortable with the facility then when I started, learned many new things about the company, and got a new pack!
Anticipation and Reflection:
I am very excited for my LINK internship that will be held at the Osprey Packs headquarters in Cortez, Colorado. It was a great challenge securing an internship at a corporation that I was passionate about. The first semester of my junior year, I was at a semester abroad program based in Cascade, ID where we traveled throughout Chilé, explored the outdoors, and ourselves. Since I was very busy at this semester abroad program, the Alzar School, I had no time to focus on my LINK internship. When I was in school abroad, everyone else back at Animas High School was working on securing their internship.
When I returned from the Alzar School, I was busy searching for internships all over the nation. This process took me much longer than I thought it would. I learned a lot from the work to do before LINK. I learned how to be persevere through difficult tasks, follow up often with companies, take action in your plans, and much more. I am very thankful for this learning opportunity, because I will be able to take these skills and apply them in my future.
Now that my internship is secured, I am finally relieved. All of this hard work was worth it to intern for a great company!
When I returned from the Alzar School, I was busy searching for internships all over the nation. This process took me much longer than I thought it would. I learned a lot from the work to do before LINK. I learned how to be persevere through difficult tasks, follow up often with companies, take action in your plans, and much more. I am very thankful for this learning opportunity, because I will be able to take these skills and apply them in my future.
Now that my internship is secured, I am finally relieved. All of this hard work was worth it to intern for a great company!