This week has taught me many lessons. This week in ISM we were required to get two interviews scheduled and we had a deadline to complete three interviews. I had connected and chatted with over 15 professionals over email, cold call or LinkedIn, and I heard back from only four. Those four responses were amazing, and make me so excited for the future. These interactions have taught me how to plan, schedule, and communicate efficiently with professionals. Furthermore, the lack of responses were also a lesson to be learned. It has taught me rejection in a way. No one has directly denied my request, rather they just haven’t responded, which is understandable because they are professionals with a job and life. Although my own father said he never looks at LinkedIn, this silence has manifested an anticipation, and frustration that I believe is apart of the rejection process. Through this I have learned patience, understanding, and how to push forward in my search for contacts rather than being idle. More is better than less. Nevertheless, I did achieve the goal of two interviews. I actually received three interviews and a phone contact. This makes me extremely excited to meet and learn from these professionals, and for what the future holds, however I am extremely nervous and don’t want to mess up or embarrass myself. All I can do is practice, prepare, and pray that all goes well. In addition, I completed my second research assessment, and it went much easier than the first now that I prepared and understood how to compete it. In conclusion, this week I learned a lot about effective communication, and how hard work and preparation will create beneficial results. I am so excited to conduct my interviews in the coming weeks.