
I got a five-week internship at a large insurance company over my winter break. This has been my first extended work experience where my boss and coworkers didn't know I was disabled. This week, I want to share what I have learned during this process.
1: Disability advocacy looks different in different settings
I feel very confident sharing my disability identity at school, with my friends, and on this blog, but suddenly, at work, I was not confident. I largely hid my disabilities until it was relevant, such as someone talking about their autistic child's accommodations or me not being able to stock a shelf without pain. I have found that I have more room to gain confidence and that there is a time and place to talk about disability, just like with most other subjects. When I did share, it went well and did not result in me being viewed any differently.
2: Office jobs can be challenging for people with chronic pain
I always thought I had to have an office job because I am not good at most physical activity. However, I realized that office jobs can be hard for people with back pain because there is little movement. The desks at my work can turn into standing desks, but walking is better for me. I have found that the tasks where I walked to and from the scanner were the best for my back and legs because I could move in limited quantities. I also tried to walk to and from the office kitchen a few times a day so I was moving.
3: There is an aspect of office comradery and politics wherever you go
I was a little bit worried about how I would fit in as an intern because I am working with my dad and also am "low on the office totem pole," in a way. In my experience, overthinking the social interactions made me more awkward compared to being myself. I also found that being open to learning was the best way to integrate in, rather than focusing on trying to impress someone. I felt very lucky to be in a place where everyone got along, and boundaries felt respected because I have interned at places where I did not feel that way. My best advice to anyone starting a new job who is nervous and maybe struggles to read the social dynamics is to go in ready to learn.
4: There is an art to taking compliments
One of the compliments I got at work was that I am a fast learner (Thank you). However, when I heard that, I felt embarrassed to be getting that kind of attention. Finally, when someone said to ny face that I was a fast learner and the feedback they heard about me was true, I panicked and said oh no instead of thank you. From my perspective, I was afraid that when, not if, because no one is perfect, I made a mistake, I would have an image to make up for. However, from the other person's perspective, I am sure it is weird to give a compliment and hear the words oh no instead of thank you. So, there is an art to accepting compliments in a professional setting that I am still learning.
5: Learning in a completely new environment can be fun if you take pressure off of yourself
I struggle with perfectionism (see past blogs on perfectionism), so it has been really fun to drop myself into a completely new field for the sake of learning. My partner has told me I am starting to sound like my dad when I talk about insurance, which I think signals that I am learning something. I have grown as a professional between learning about insurance and working in an office environment. I am thankful for this new knowledge because I now have new skills to take to my next new thing. And who knows, maybe one day I will be back.
P.S. Dad, if you are reading this, I had fun working with you.
Thank you for reading about my winter internship. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!
Loved this! I’m glad you had such a good experience and I’m certain you made a positive impact impression on your co workers!