I loved almost everything about being a nanny. It was a wonderful experience to be welcomed into someone's home and help their children learn and grow.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have stayed with this family longer. They became a part of my family and I miss them so much.
Advice
Being a nanny is a hard job, but it is very rewarding! It's especially hard to watch children struggle with things you're not sure how you can help with. However, seeing these children overcome their challenges and be successful is a life-changing experience!
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Swim Instructor
June - August 2019 • Newbury Park, CA
What I liked
I love teaching kids! They're adorable, and lots of parents are seeking swim lessons, as many have pools and we live near the ocean.
What I wish was different
That I'd been more hard and fast on the age rule - I typically only take 4+ years, and 3 year olds only on a probationary basis.
Advice
Patience is key.
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Baby Sitter
May - August 2019 • University Place, WA
What I liked
I love working with children. I also like helping their parents by being reliable and relieving their stress.
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
Make sure to come up with activities to help make your day go by smoother. Having an outline of meals, naps, and activities also helps.
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Agriculture research intern
May - July 2019 • Havana, Cuba
What I liked
I was able to formulate my own experience
What I wish was different
Support from a more formal institution
Advice
Plan everything, but don't expect everything to go as planned
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Landscaping
June 2018 • Philadelphia, PA
What I liked
Flexible hours
What I wish was different
Worked less
Advice
Remember to take breaks and time off when necessary
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Private Music Instructor
August 2018 • Wichita, KS
What I liked
Working with students
What I wish was different
I wish I had asked for more at the beginning
Advice
It is difficult to find students.
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Private ESL Tutor
September 2018 - July 2019 • Kabul, Kabul Province
What I liked
I liked the experience I had with children and girls my age in a third world country. I learned how to teach a subject I take for granted. I was born in a country where I was able to easily learn English, but others are working very hard to learn this skill. Since it is a language where majority of people speak it and is something great to have on your resume in a country like Afghanistan, it was an honor to teach those who were not able to afford or go to English courses because of cultural boundaries.
What I wish was different
I wish I was able to buy books from America and bring them to students who were serious about their studies. Unfortunately, I did not plan to teach English thus I was not well-prepared in the beginning. Throughout the process, I found that I wished I could help more. I had students who did not even go to school trying to learn English and it is tough. I found that hard-work prevails all.
Advice
I would advise anyone to learn to teach. I am still a beginner, but it is an amazing skill to have throughout anyways academic or general career. It teaches you to be empathetic to others and not to assume. Not only that, you learn to be grateful.
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Independent Researcher
June - September 2019 • Rochester Hills, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed furthering my knowledge of the R programming language by following my own interest in mathematical statistics.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had had an academic advisor to guide my research path, but I was able to compensate for this by writing out a schedule with my dad for writing the Project Proposal, three Progress Reports, and the Final Report.
Advice
If you can’t find a professor to work under, I highly recommend doing research on your own. It is an incredibly rewarding experience and will impress your professors that you were driven and diligent enough to take on a project without their direction.
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Horse Trainer
May - September 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ
What I liked
I love working with horses. It doesn't even feel like a job, it's like I get paid to have fun. I also love the flexible hours and working for myself.
What I wish was different
Nothing.
Advice
Know how much work you can handle, and don't overbook yourself.
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Web Developer
July 2019 • Phoenix, AZ
What I liked
I like expanding my work as a developer to a business consultant and marketer.
What I wish was different
I wish clients are more willing to learn.
Advice
If you're a web developer that wants to start your own business, it's worth learning to design, advertise, and consult clients. This will expand your business exponentially.
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Freelance Filmmaker
November 2015 • Wilbraham, MA
What I liked
Self-declared hours, creative freedom!
What I wish was different
More work, it was two contracted projects
Advice
Self employment is risky but it’s some of the most gratifying work!
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Landscaping
May - September 2019 • Boston, MA
What I liked
Great to have flexibility of hours and projects. I got lots of experience in growing a business and dealing with clients.
What I wish was different
I wish I had been more selective of clients, rather than doing jobs for anyone who would pay our base rate.
Advice
If you start a landscaping company, make sure you use your other clients as leverage when acquiring new ones.
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Private Music Teacher
June - August 2019 • Minneapolis, MN
What I liked
I enjoyed working with students on finding music that interested them and addressed the specific technical skills and learning goals set with each student at the beginning of the summer.
What I wish was different
I wish I had been able to work more with my high school aged students, especially those who were interested in exploring areas of music they did not have access to through their school music ensembles.
Advice
Teaching music lessons really is a good way to learn more about your own playing style and tests your ability to adapt, especially when working with younger or beginner students. Be prepared to keep tailor lessons to the individual students to make sure their needs and goals are able to be met in a way that doesn’t make playing a chore for them.
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Lawn Care Worker
April 2015 • Omaha, NE
What I liked
Freedom of being able to work on my own schedule
What I wish was different
Worked more hours
Advice
Work hard to get what you desire in life
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Referee
May - July 2019 • Salina, KS
What I liked
Easy money
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Must have tough skin
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Self- Employed Lawn Care
May - August 2019 • Huntsville, AL
What I liked
Lot of different experiences that will be applicable when I am on my own in the real world. Cutting grass, talking to customers, painting houses, pressure washing, etc.
What I wish was different
The heat was almost unbearable in August.
Advice
Get as much hands on experience as you can with any kind of home owner’s problems because it will save your money down the line.
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Nanny
May - August 2019 • Leesburg, VA
What I liked
I enjoyed the flexibility of our daily schedules and the opportunity to let the children experience new and exciting activities
What I wish was different
More consistency
Advice
Being creative is key
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Standardized Test Tutor
June - September 2019 • Glide, OR
What I liked
I enjoyed helping in an unrelated field to my own education. It helped expand my mind a little.
What I wish was different
I wished there had been more students with a greater variety of needs.
Advice
Try to stay ahead of whoever you are tutoring. It's a lot harder to help when you know even just a little bit of the issue beforehand.
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Nanny
June 2019 • Chicago, IL
What I liked
I like the flexibility of my hours
What I wish was different
I wish that my boss had been in better communication with me
Advice
Set up good boundaries regarding how much your employer can contact you
