The field of my work, also known as AC Unit 2 (aka Gamora), is the main place where I have practiced some professional skills. As you know, there in fact is a Unit 1 named Drax the Destroyer, which lies right next to Gamora. Since both Gamora and Drax share the same building, there have been a number of times when I will find pottery with the same lined pattern that are in other sherds found in Drax. Finding connections like this is good practice for the potential hypothetical job. Understanding how my role coincides and connects with others is a good skill to have: looking at the larger picture. Another thing that I have had to deal with is patience. You must understand that there are two sides to Gamora: the fertile, abundant side and the barren, harsh side; one is in the shade, one is in the sun. As the worker who has unfortunately picked the short straw, you can guess which side I primarily work on. Through the heat, sweat, tears, and dirt, I have persevered to work and continue leveling the barren part of Gamora. For big projects and supervising, patience definitely helps with professionalism.
Regarding a leadership role, there has not been much opportunity that I have experienced in the past two weeks, but I can try to squeeze come relevant skills into this unlikely interview, though probably very loosely. I mean, a leader has to have a plan of attack for some project, so is attacking Gamora. Leah and I have been methodical each day with planning generally: leveling areas, articulating stones, removing stones, etc…, and then, as we are in the middle of those processes, deciding exactly what we want to do with small pieces of pottery, glass, nail, stone, etc…. Planning is always important in the leadership role.
Socially, working with the Turkish students has basically forced me to communicate very differently, using arbitrary hand motions and broken words. Maybe communicating just using those ‘skills’ would not look too professional, but at least I have experience, which could help with a colleague who does not easily speak the same language. Also, collaborating/planning with Leah could be considered social, though collaborating could actually be clumped with leadership, or professionalism. The point is that collaboration is important and covers basically all the aspects of a job, especially.
Gamora’s foundational areas, though few and often deceptive, have really allowed me to pay attention to the small things: distinguishing pottery from stones from melted glass from metals. Also distinguishing certain stones like bedrock vs. limestone. In contrast to the broad view as a leader, details are just as important. Just like Dr. Seuss once said: “A skill is a skill, no matter how small” (maybe, actually probably not).