Written Response 1

Michael Kennedy 

Professor Cole Bennett 

English 410 

22 May 2017 

Written Response One 

I think I have a fairly adaptable learning style with most things.  I think what I can consistently say about my learning is that, when it comes to practical concepts, I understand better being shown than I do being told.  If you are trying to explain to me how to do a Rubik's cube, for instance, I really won't understand what you mean until you show me and let me try to do it for myself.  Once I am corrected, I will likely be able to solve the cube.  This happens with math.  I could be told how to do math in class for an hour and not really understand it until I actually do it for myself or am shown a step by step solving of an example problem.  With more theoretical matters, I can just absorb the information passively.  I often do not take notes when larger matters of theory are being discussed.   

My greatest strength in communication skills, I believe, is in Questioning and Probing.  I like to get to the bottom of things and ask precise clarifying questions.   I think I am most deficient in Reassuring and Supporting.  I try to be very welcoming but I am often less patient with people's failures than being a supporting person would allow. 

I found the amount of emotional stress that was being described in the book surprising.  My own situation is different from that of the intern that goes to live in a strange place for a while to work in their field, but I still don't understand how serious the book was making this situation out to be.  I understand this book is meant to guide us through the entire experience of the internship, but I just cannot see why it approaches the concept of an internship with such trepidation.  I never thought of an internship as such a difficult or emotional thing.