Nicholas Malley

CYSE 368

9 October 2023

Reflection 1

            The first week of my internship with Tower Federal Credit Union working in their information security department was full of learning. A lot of topics, procedures, and methods were unfamiliar to me, so I knew I had much to learn. I also took the time to introduce myself to all my peers and familiarized myself with my workspace and other departments inside headquarters.

            The first week I worked one on one with my boss, Craig White (AVP), Phil Mellinger (VP & ISO), and fellow peers. During this time they introduced me to the tech industry while also measuring my knowledge of certain subject matters. This was also a time where I got to know my colleagues on a personal level. They shared their stories of experience and offered great career advice; expressing how to get my foot in the door and suggesting different routes I should take in the industry that will help advance my career.

            Moreover, during the first week I gained a high level of overview of the different programs, software, and stations that are used on a consistent basis. The objective was not to get to in depth where it could possibly confuse me but to introduce me to the concepts and functionality of the internal processes.

            In summary, during the first week of my internship I plunged into a steep learning curve. Many topics, procedures, and methods were entirely new to me, but I took the initiative to learn as much as I could and introduce myself to my colleagues, familiarize myself with my workspace, and explore various departments within the headquarters. This initial week also provided an opportunity to connect with my colleagues on a personal level, where they generously shared their life experiences and offered valuable career advice. In addition to these personal connections, the first week allowed me to gain a high-level overview of the various programs, software, and systems regularly used within the department.