When you think about an intern, what comes to mind? For me it was running to pick up coffee orders, organizing schedules, setting up meetings, generally staying out of the way. And although we did some of that “normal intern work,” the majority of our time was spent knee deep in projects that actually impacted the company. We handled bank and credit card reconciliations, organizing critical files, closing the books, and building an interactive model to project future company growth. Being thrown in really allowed us to see the inner workings of a business and see how each decision has its impacts. The experience was invaluable not just because of the skills we gained, but because of the trust we were given. We weren’t treated like summer interns, we were treated like full time employees and friends. The RapDev community gave us a sense of purpose and pride in the work we did. 

This summer has truly been the most educational, fun, and valuable time of my life. Although the summer is over, I’m walking away with life long friends, mentors, and the real RapDev experience. 

Learning by Doing

Starting Out:

As a College student, the word “internship” is thrown out a lot. Usually paired with phrases like “gain real-world experience”, “build connections with professionals”, and “boost your resume”. When signing my Offer Letter to join RapDev as an Intern, all these phrases were at the top of my mind.  I was ready to do the universal college internship experience and take my first step into the professional world. What I didn’t realize was that I would gain all of those things and so much more. On my very first day, I was introduced to the company culture that makes RapDev special. I walked to my desk excited, nervous, and honestly terrified, not knowing what to expect. But those nerves quickly faded when the team welcomed me with smiles and hellos and made me feel like I was actually a part of the team and not “just an intern”. 

Learning and Growing:

Every day at RapDev felt like a new opportunity. With the company growing so quickly, there was always an opportunity to jump on projects and learn something new. What stood out to me the most was the patience of my mentors; they always guided me, which built my understanding of the work I was doing, never just handing me tasks to do. Inevitably, as an Intern, there were times I felt lost or got stuck. My mentors fully understood this and always took the time to allow me to ask questions, walk me through challenges, and help me come out with an answer and a deeper understanding of the problem I ran into. Working on the Finance & Operations team this summer gave me the chance to contribute to real projects that actually drove progress within my career and within the company. I came in expecting to do “busy work” that had little to no impact on the company. Instead, I was fortunate enough to see my contribution to the company's growth through my work, which always encouraged me to work harder and push out my best work. The hands-on experience I gained from financial accounting and forecasting to people operations and corporate strategy accelerated my technical skills and allowed me to feel confident in my skills and proud to be contributing meaningfully to the team.

‍Culture:

If there’s one thing I’ll never forget, it’s the culture at RapDev. From day one, the team treated me as one of their own. Always offering advice, encouragement, and support. People didn’t just care about me as an intern or the work I was doing, but also cared about me as a person. From team dinners to boat trips, or even playing Ping Pong with coworkers, I was able to experience a culture that blended work and genuine connection. The experiences I shared with coworkers at RapDev made the Internship so much more worthwhile. 

Reflecting:

This internship was no doubt the best decision I’ve made for my career so far. It not only gave me technical and professional skills through real-world projects, but also gave me countless memories and friendships that I’ll remember forever. My summer at RapDev exceeded every expectation I had by miles. I am beyond grateful to have been a part of this team and learn from genuine, inspiring people.

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