As the title implies, yeah, being an intern is actually really cool. Not only do you get to work on something you are passionate about, but you also get to work alongside the most creative and even more passionate people ever. Being an intern has not only shaped my feelings about grad school and research, but rather have also made my future goals and aspirations clearer. The other interns I’m surrounded by all have had their own experiences and are all so fascinating in their own regards, from the different ways they approach topics to how fun they all are to hang out with. I’ve never been able to truly have such deep and engaging conversations about nerdy topics like I have here, and it feels so refreshing to be able to have such warm and welcoming people surround me. With each day that passes, I learn something new, whether it’s how to make a shape in blender, another factor that makes people cybersick, or even just how to let loose a little and reach out of my comfort zone.

Prior to arriving, I was deathly afraid of whether or not I would fit in with everyone here at Iowa State and if I even deserved to participate in this program itself, but 2 weeks in, even if I don’t deserve it, I’ll make it worth the time of everyone who allowed me to make it here, and that’s what matters the most to me. Each day that passes is another day to prove to myself that I can surpass any expectation placed on me and that I can make it where I want to be in life, even if I don’t know exactly where that is yet. All in all, this experience so far has taught me that growth doesn’t come from knowing exactly where you’re going, but rather that it comes from showing up, staying viciously curious, and being daring enough to believe that you belong no matter how wrong you think you are. I may not have all the answers yet, hell, I have a lot of questions! But I’ve found something more valuable, a space where I can learn, connect, and slowly grow into the version of myself I’ve always hoped to be. For the first time in forever, I feel like I’m not just wishfully daydreaming about the future, but rather building it up one day at a time, where no matter how much I stumble, I have a bunch of people around to help me back up and push me to strive even harder. So yeah, I’d say being an intern is pretty cool : )