During these last couple of months, I have had an amazing opportunity interning at Peach State in their Marketing department. I am grateful to work with amazing co-workers who have taught me many skills and have helped shaped me into the employee that I am today!
How It Started...
As a college student entering adulthood, trying to find the next steps to take can be difficult; especially when it comes to figuring out what exactly to do in life. For me, I knew I wanted to learn more about business but was unsure of which aspect of business I wanted to pursue. Despite my uncertainty, I knew I wanted to intern and build professional experience to help develop my career.
During my journey to find an internship, an opportunity came knocking at my door. A friend asked me if I was interested in working for a credit union – Peach State FCU. At first, I didn’t know much about credit unions (or Peach State) so I did some research. I learned that Peach State is different than a regular bank, and what makes them unique is their commitment to service, and helping people and their communities.
From that moment I knew I wanted to work for a place that believed in creating good by helping their communities, and I was going to try my hardest to be a part of their team.
Valuable Lessons I Learned During My Internship
Throughout my internship, l learned about the importance of having a healthy work environment, developed professional office skills, and even learned how to better manage finances.
Healthy Work Environment
Working with colleagues that treat you with respect and patience, and are willing to guide you with feedback are important in a healthy work environment. I learned that it's okay to speak up and ask questions, because that's a big part of learning. Interning at Peach State has also taught me the importance of teamwork and that in order to complete a project successfully, it requires good communication and collaboration skills.
I have many mentors in various departments of the credit union that offer their help, and regularly check on me to ensure sure I’m on the right path toward success. Being a part of a healthy work environment is a must for growing your creativity, expressing yourself and most importantly, for a fulfilling career.
Professional Skills
Some of the professional skills I gained through my internship were business etiquette, editing/proofing, and learning more about computer programs such as Excel, Word, Outlook, and more. My internship has also helped me strengthen my time management skills – working and being a full-time student can be difficult to juggle if you don’t plan your time accordingly. I learned the importance of using a planner to stay organized and setting due dates to make sure I’m on track with all my tasks.
Personal Finances
Before I worked for the credit union, I had a basic understanding about managing finances and building credit. I knew I should have a plan for saving and building credit (so I can buy a house or make other big purchases), but I didn’t know where to start. One thing I did know for certain was that I wanted to bank with a place that I could trust and would treat me like family, not just another number.
After talking with several of my fellow co-workers at Peach State, they helped me come up with a way to start my financial journey. I’m glad to say that Peach State helped get my first credit card for building credit and create a plan of financial stability for my future.
Working at Peach State has helped improve my financial literacy both professionally and personally. In becoming more educated around finances and through my own experience, I am able to help other members like me.
Becoming a Part of the Peach State Family
Peach State is more than financial institution, they are like a financial family. Before joining the credit union, I had heard about how much they value community and education.
As a first-generation college student, trying to figure out what to do in life is stressful, especially when my family has worked so hard to allow me to grow in my education. I want to make my family proud and support them in every way possible, and to do that, I know I need a community that allows me to grow into the best version of myself. Now I can say from experience, I have been able to dream big and realize that I am capable of achieving my professional and financial goals.
My journey started as an internship with their Marketing department, and thanks to my fellow colleagues, I managed to learn more information that not only helped me grow as a student in Marketing, but also helped expand my confidence in the world of business and finance. Peach State has become my community, and they invited me to stay in the Peach State family as an official employee! I look forward to using this opportunity to continue to grow my career, my financial future and create a positive impact in our community!
