friday favorites: heading into my last week in chicago…
I am slowly approaching my last week in Chicago and this week I have decided to brainstorm what i am thankful for. Let’s see: living alone in a new city, working in a totally unrelated field to my major, meeting talented co-workers…it really has been quite an educational experience.
First, I am so thankful for living in Chicago for two months; this city has so much to offer from the arts and architecture to sports activities and music concerts/food festivals. I have dedicated my time this summer to eating healthy whole foods and outdoor running/pilates/hot power yoga. These activities have helped me take better care of my mind and body; it has cleansed the toxins in my body and negativity in my mind and instilled a more optimistic and challenging mindset.
Second, I am so thankful for working at Nuveen Investments. They say that business is a very cut-throat environment, but not at this firm. The people at this company genuinely care, nurture, and encourage each other. As a leading investment management firm, people at this company are consistently thinking of innovative fund launches/aggressive fund pipeline, brainstorming ways to leverage their competitive advantage, and simply being passionate about what they do. I have not only learned about business, but also been inspired and motivated by mentors to further accelerate my career in this field.
Lastly, I am so thankful for having met a diverse group of friends, interns, and co-workers. I could not have asked for a better team to work with; my co-workers never treat me any less than they would treat their boss. They are open to my questions (no matter how trivial) and they offer every opportunity (whether it be meetings, conference calls, lunches etc.) for me to learn. Surprisingly, many of my new friends and fellow interns are much older than me; we’ve explored the city together and I am thankful for having matured and shared this experience with them.
Last week in Chicago: final presentation / first concert experience at lollapalooza / farewell outings with co-workres, interns and friends / shopping for home decor for my new apartment! It’s going to be a busy week and it will definitely fly by, but I will go into this week reminding myself how grateful I am and knowing that I will come out of this experience as a physically and mentally stronger, knowledgeable, cultured, and independent individual.
