http://www.biola.edu

Biola University

Academic Mentor

September 2020 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

I enjoyed getting to connect with students one on one, helping them understand their struggles through casual conversation, and working with them to create a personalized action plan to achieve their goals.

What I wish was different

I wish I had the opportunity to meet in person with my students rather than meet through Zoom in order to work on their schedule together in front of them. However, the whiteboard function in Zoom and the organization app, Notion, greatly helped me achieve that.

Advice

I would definitely recommend you enjoy working with people, as this is a highly personal job. Often students will have struggles that are unrelated to school but affect their academics. Being open to listen to them usually greatly affects their openness to stick to the plan you create together.
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Cashier

August - September 2018 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

I liked meeting the students at Biola and working with likeminded individuals.

What I wish was different

The whole entire management system.

Advice

Have a lot of patience and be flexible because the managers make it so completely difficult.
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student

August 2019 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

The easy access to job listings

What I wish was different

Perhaps a more personalized experience such as Linked in, with more options to interact with others.

Advice

Look for jobs early and really try to stand out!
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Gate Attendant

May - December 2020 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

I can study at the same time.

What I wish was different

It can be very boring at times.

Advice

It was a great way to make money during quarantine.
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Peer Wellness Ambassador

April 2020 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Flexibility is key! Because I was part of the inaugural group of Peer Wellness Ambassadors, the work we did every week would change frequently. This is not a job that has a regular routine, but it is SO worth it! You get to engage with a wide variety of projects, which is helpful for developing both your strengths and weaknesses. The Department of Student Wellness is fairly new, so our group was able to contribute a lot of ideas to new events and social media campaigns. Be willing to learn new things, brainstorm new ideas, and just have a heart for Biola and its students.
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Summer Engineering Intern

May - July 2021 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

I was able to learn many skills such as 3d modeling, 3d printing, Arduino, and laser cutting.

What I wish was different

Nothing.

Advice

Get out of your comfort zone and use 100% effort in everything you do
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Greek Intern

August - September 2022 • San Jose, CA

What I liked

I liked translating real Greek inscriptions. It was cool to be doing actual work that no one else has done before.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been given a little more direction at times on what I should be working on so I could use my time most effectively.

Advice

Reach out the the professor whenever you are feeling tired of the work or run out of things to work on because she’s always willing to help.
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Facilities Maintenance Worker

May 2021 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

Having a consistent job that paid well because of its consistency.

What I wish was different

A higher pay rate. The crew had to do things over the summer that were not part of the job description, such as removing moldy furniture from a couple bedrooms, and it just would have been nice if we were paid more on the hour.

Advice

Your coworkers count on you constantly. If you fall behind, it makes a strong impact on the workflow of the day.
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Engineering Intern

May - July 2021 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

Tackling on a more challenging project than what I have been used to; I also really liked the close mentoring I received from my two mentors (who ran the internship program). Last but not least, I enjoyed working with my teammate, who really helped take the lead and guide me in helping her with the entire project.

What I wish was different

I just wish we had more hours and days to work! Other than that, I have nothing else to say - I really liked how the entire program was run.

Advice

Never give up. There will be times when you will encounter roadblocks, but those are key for one's learning and growth in developing as a professional.
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Eagle Host

August 2019 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

I was able to meet with prospective students and discuss with them the science department

What I wish was different

NA

Advice

It is beneficial to talk with students with the knowledge that they may not come to the university so approach
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Nanomedicine and Genomics Summer Research Intern

June - August 2021 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

The faculty under who I worked were attentive to each student's understanding of the research content. I appreciated the slow-paced environment that allowed for careful and methodical research to be done in. The hours were very reasonable, starting most days at 9 or 10 am. All persons in the lab were very kind and excited to learn more about our field in science each day, maintaining curiosity that bred enthusiasm to work each day.

What I wish was different

Advice

Research does not move as fast as you may wish. Some experiments don't go the way you hypothesized. I encourage students applying to this internship to maintain hope even through discouraging weeks when lab work does not go as anticipated.
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Hvac Assistant

May 2019 • Biola, CA

What I liked

Fulfilling work that provides a sense of accomplishment.

What I wish was different

Nothing that comes to mind

Advice

Bring a pair of headphones and some music or a podcast (if allowed) for the more tedious jobs to pass the time easier.
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Student Academic Advisor

May - August 2023 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

My favourite parts of the job were the team I got to work and the chance to work on projects over a longer period of time. My supervisors were affirming and encouraging and also gave me helpful specific training on how to complete the various tasks. As for the work itself, I liked the fact that we worked on one large project over the course of the summer. We made steady progress each week, and it was rewarding to see how we all worked together to complete this one large task.

What I wish was different

Honestly, there are very few things I wish had been different. I enjoyed working with the others in the team, and the work itself was enjoyable too.

Advice

Communicate, communicate, communicate and don't be afraid to ask for help. This will both help you learn how to do the job correctly, but it will teach you so many other things you might not learn if you don't ask. Even more importantly however, communication is essential to a good work environment and will be invaluable for team dynamics.
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cafeteria student worker

June - August 2023 • La Mirada, CA

What I liked

The workers (other student workers, management, and the chefs) were all super kind! Although I only worked there in the summer, it got to feel like a family very quickly.

What I wish was different

Communication of the weekly work schedule was usually given on Sunday night, so it was difficult to plan out the coming week.

Advice

Try to keep a positive attitude. Long shifts can be exhausting but try to remain upbeat about it--or take your break to complain with your fellow workers! The overall experience was good but just know that you will be tired.
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