The End Has Come – it’s time to lay all the cards on the table

The final week of my placement with the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre has arrived. The final post is generally always reserve to reflect upon the experiences and achievements obtained across the past 20 days. However, I feel that this post is far more significantly representational as a concluding reflection on the end of my entire University journey, as well as my internship placement. We all have our experiences, our achievements, our skills and our ambition… but where do we go from here? I personally have spent the best part of 18 consecutive years of my life studying, and to label myself as institutionalised is perhaps an understatement. We are no longer safeguarded by outlines of a curriculum, or driven by the timetables of terms and semesters. 

We choose what happens from here on in, with a level of responsibly and accountability that some of us may not be accustomed to. For some, that is an invigorating thought, however for others, perhaps less so. I personally have not made up my mind quite yet on how I feel about this leap towards independence, both personally and professionally. More worryingly, I certainly have not made up my mind regarding the upcoming course of my imminent journey towards reaching my career goals. I have my hypothetical cards all laid out on the table, but deciding which to pick up and use is proving to be a difficult decision.

Upon reflection, I feel deeply appreciative towards both mentors and all that they have consciously and subconsciously taught. The tasks undergone may have been challenging and, at times, stressful, however the internship experience is one that I have enjoyed far more than I could have ever anticipated. At its core, this is a view that is often expressed throughout reflective blog posts, personal anecdotes, and final reports. As a student embarking on an internship experience, comprehending the enjoyment and appreciation is not truly possible until you reach that final day. Realising how much you have learned about the organisation, your skill levels, and your personal attributes within the space of 20 working days can be quite astounding, and equally the most rewarding of achievements.

With that in mind, I feel privileged to have ascertained my experiences throughout the past three years, this internship program being one of the more significant ones. Despite all our inevitable fears surrounding the alternating paths that we will all end up taking, the commonality that we all share, aside from our choice of educational institute, is that we will take what has been taught across the last 20 days, and it will undoubtedly inform our future careers. My internship experience has taught me a great deal across the past three months. However, it has also highlighted how much more I am yet to learn. Upon reflection, regardless of where I choose to turn, it is important to remember that the purpose of my journey is to continue learning. Does this revelation alleviate my fears? I would certainly like to think so. Therefore, my advice to any PR student amidst the cusp of graduation that is perhaps experiencing a similar existential dilemma is to discover your drive and your purpose, and to remember it. Good luck to all of you, regardless of your stage within your degree, goodbye, and thank you for an incredible three and a half years.