Internship #15: Thursday, January 27

Here is a picture of some of the cubicles in my division and it supposed represent all the people being resources.

Here are some pictures of resources the cars in the picture use E-85 instead of gas, those panels in the sky are solar, and that man is my mentor and he has been working at Caltrans for a long time so he was a good resource for knowledge.

Internship #16: Friday, January 29

These pictures show that as I got further into the internship more and more work opened up for me.


I learned that the business world people just seem friendlier, there’s a lot of teamwork, and that you have more freedom and trust when having a job. Before going here I thought I was going to do something simple and they would put me in the corner and think I couldn’t do much but they didn’t. They taught me a lot then and after that they let me work on my own and then they even used my work. It’s also nice not having homework just once done with your job your done for the day no one bugging you to do extra work. How ever the days seem a little longer, with harder work, and maybe its just me but I got a headache almost every day. But it was still a great experience and I learned way more then expected about what they do at CalTrans.

Internship #14: Wednesday, January 27

Michael E. Roy
Transportation planner
4050 Taylor St.
San Diego, CA 92110 (in Old town)
California Department of Transportation



From this photo it shows that he is friendly, accommodating, and isn't stressed or over worked. He gets his work done but does not get himself worked up and in a panic. You can see there are cubicles so there is still paper work to do and other people to work with but still giving privacy. Since we are in the field and in cubicles dress is casual at the work site.

(Sorry about not more info or background info in the picture however I was out in the field all day and didn’t get back until it was time to go so I was unable to check the blogs requirements. A friend text me to take a picture so I did since I couldn’t get online.)

Internship #7: Friday 1/15

Internship site: CalTrans


Department: Planning


Project Title: Transit Stop In or Adjacent to State Right of Way


General Description:
I will be driving around with my mentor a couple of days and look for bus stop near the ROW (Right of Way) and see if there are any problems. For some examples: is the curb accessible for handicap, or are there bushes overgrowing the bench, is there a bench or is it far away from the bus sign, or is it in the dirt, or not enough room on the road for the bus to stop, and just stuff that people could complain about.

Learning Objectives:

Well other then this project I will be doing a lot of projects for all different people to learn about all different parts of the company. However my learning from this specific project is that there is a lot of work behind CalTrans other then some one saying lets build a road then its built it take sometimes years to get things done and because there are a lot of little details and side jobs with it.

Organization/Company Objectives & Benefits:

Helping them locate problems with bus stops near the ROW

I am helping my mentor so he doesn’t have to do a lot of work on his own. Also if we do find problems with bus stops it could help pedestrians when trying to access a bus stop.


Schedule:

Mostly unknown schedule for driving around since we are avoiding driving for hours out in the rain. However I can work on the spreadsheets at any time and I have been.

Academic Skills:

Academic skills required are: Math for coordinates and reading of course to look through a Thomas Guide and find streets the bus stops are on.

Technical Skills:

I need to use excel, word, and maybe Google maps to find stops and right out results.



Collaboration—Skills and Opportunities:

I need to work with several different people for different projects each one requires talking to many people since every one has very specific jobs but all contribute. For an example there is a map and there are four other people one person does the 56 and 94, another does the 805 and the 5, and some other person does the 15 and colors of the map. Each person needs to talk to each other and give work to each other so they can work off of one another.

Exhibition Plans:

I have two sheets of excel a map of San Diego county and about twenty other small ones of specific parts of the city.


Schedule & Timelines:

I do not have one it all depends on what my mentor wants to do for the day but most days I will be mapping out routes for us to take then taking them. A few days I will be working with some other people on computers.


Next, provide a summary of your week.


My highlights were that I got to do field work so I wasn’t just looking at a map. I also met a lot of the people in my division, which was nice. Then the last thing was I went to meeting about plans for future roads and it was very interesting on how they need to care about some things that don’t like too big of a difference. I did not have any challenges the hardest one was when we were on the road and my mentor was going to fast for me to keep up while going through the Thomas Brothers Guide book. I worked with other great I was polite and they were back got work done and even went out to lunch with a couple people. I did not expect it to be so friendly and kind of kicked back, yes people work but no one is yelling at you that something needs to be done in one day. I would say it is fun exciting and an eye opener. Most students go to school and that’s it not to many people at fifteen or sixteen have a job especially one like mine were no one seems to be harassed.

Internship #1

1. When did you wake up?
6:30 AM

2. What did you have for breakfast?
Lean Pocket

3. How did you get to internship? How long did it take? How did it go?
My mom drove me it took maybe 15 mins and the drive was nice we only hit one pothole and didn’t run any lights.

4. What did you do when you first arrived at internship? Who did you see? Who did you talk to?
I walked into the lobby talked to the security desk as he gave me a guest pass as I waited for the person to show me around. I talked a little to the guard and then the person that help set up my internship Carlena.

5. Where do you work (in the company, in the building, etc.)? What is your area like?
I work in building 2 floor 4 cubicle number 6. It is very big cubicle about the size of my room I have cabinets full of books about road laws, a computer other then that it is very empty I also have a trash can in my.

6. What did you do for lunch?
I was told to bring lunch since I might be on the field might not so I got a Sandwich

7. What did you do during the afternoon?
I read a book on traffic laws and expectations of me while working for CalTrans then took a test to show I read it (I got a 100%)


8. What type of work do you see yourself doing in the next few days?
On the field driving around looking at bus stops

9. What do you feel prepared to do? What do you think you'll do well?
I am good with computers if I need to use a program I can do that no problem and if they require me to do something else I shall learn how to complete it.

10. What are you going to need to learn to succeed at your internship?
How a job works how people work together rely on each other and schedules.

11. What makes you excited about working there?

I’ve heard good things about this place and so far it seems good with every one being very friendly.

12. What makes you nervous about working there?
I’m nervous that the work here can affect a lot of people and im just nervous to mess up and cause a big set back.

13. When did you get home? What was your afternoon/evening commute like?

I got home around 4:00 Pm short ride back but nothing bad.

Internship #13: Tuesday, January 26

These two are very unclear and hard to read I don’t know why but I took about 20 pictures trying to make it clear it just didn’t work. How ever if you look closely it shows august of 2009 then on the other January 2010 on the other just different drafts and updates showing that they do revisions there.










In this picture it just shows people taking on different jobs and some color changes on the roads specifically the 56. This is just a close up of two of some of the many different copies.






For this picture it shows different version just maybe moving the map a little, changing colors, or even taking some icons out and some in. This was not that hard to do but it still takes time and just little things can make a difference.

Internship #12: Monday 1/25

I think I work with and talk to about two or three people a day, however my work probably affects a lot more. There are maybe six people working on the same thing I am (not interns) and then our work will go to different divisions of CalTrans and even more people will look at it and base their work on ours. In the end if what we do works a road built and I had a small part to do on it.
People choose what roads they have some people might look and digitally draw the 94 while some one else does the 805 and the 15 it depends I guess on skill and how fast they can work. I am just getting used to the programs so I am doing background, changing errors, names and format of the maps a little bit.
When I know my work will go to many different people and it might have changes in the world it worries me so I work harder. I think what if there is an error or I do something wrong and it sets every one else back by a lot. I don’t like messing up especially when it may affect a lot of people so I make sure that I do a good job and a accurate one.

Internship #11: Thursday 1/22

My highlights this week was I got to learn a new computer program called ArcGIS which has different programs in it but it basically makes maps with roads population and other things as well. Another highlight was I’m starting to get know and get along with more people there, before I didn’t really know to many peoples names.

Some challenges was learning how to use the computer program ArcGIS since I do now have my own account or access to most things on the computer so it was hard getting around that but I did.

What is memorable is that every one even if they go over to ask some one about a part of work they are friendly and joke around. It doesn’t seem like there is much tension in the air every one is peaceful not yelling that they need things done.

Internship #10: Thursday 1/21

One main question is that are most places you work at so friendly and every one so talkative when at work. This makes me wonder is it just school were people have groups and don’t talk to others outside of their group that much or is it most places of work too. Just ask around family, friends and other people to see if every one has such a happy time at work.


Did what you studied in College help on what your career is?

What are some recommendations about jobs what kind of insurance they should have and retirement plans and other stuff similar to that.

Would you suggest a community, a state, or a university college?

If I were to work the same field as you, what courses would be suggested for me while I’m in college?

When graduating high school do you suggest taking a year to travel or go straight back to school?

Do you think CalTrans will grow in the future and be a bigger company or be smaller?

Choice B:

Choice B: What new appreciations (for who? of what?) have you gained through internship that you did not have before? How did you develop these appreciations?

I have never had a job before and I just expected it to be similar to school each person in their own little group and talk only amongst each other. Well here at work every one is friendly saying hello and being helpful to each other and that I am surprised by. Another thing I like is that there is more freedom and trust. At school people steal each other’s items and steal from Vons, then the employees of Vons don’t all of us as much. At work people are more friendly leave their items in their cubicles and go off the work site to eat and come back with their items still there.

Internship #6: Thursday 1/14

I will probably ask question like:

Did you know you would be working here a few years before you started working here?

What did you study in college?

Does your study from college significantly help your work?

What were some good decisions in your life that you can recommend for other people to follow?

The interview would probably be convenient during lunch some time next week.

I will write down any notes or suggestions that are important too.

Internship #4: Tuesday 1/12

1. What academic skills could you use on the job?
Reading is going to help since I need to read up on a lot of information. Perhaps math will help as well for when counting and calculating statistics.

2. What forms of collaboration could you use in a project?

I do not have a project yet therefore I am not able to respond to this question at this time.



3. What technical skills can you use at your internship?

Since I do have a computer in my cubicle I may be typing information up or helping others with their computer based work.


4. What new things can you learn while working at your site?

I can learn how a job works how people get along at work sites and how all different branches and departments overlap and help each other.


5. How can you exhibit, showcase or otherwise share your work?

Hopefully my work will help out the company or at least an employee and make there job a little easer. My work might be included in statistics given at meetings.

6. How can your work or your skills & abilities help your company or organization?


I am not sure exactly what work I will be doing. How ever I am hopeful that my math skills, computer skills, and problem solving skills will be of benefit to CalTrans.