As this internship comes to an end, I found myself looking for a story that could capture what these past months have really meant to me. In the Bible, the story of David quietly tending his father’s sheep before he ever stood in front of Goliath offered a powerful picture. His “shepherd years” were hidden, ordinary. In this reflection, I would like to use David’s story as an entry point to look back on my internship experience, to share some of my personal reflections, and to express my gratitude to everyone who has helped me along the way.
In the Bible, as the youngest son of Jesse, David was entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding in the wilderness, and he carried it out faithfully. He had to feed the flock and lead them to fresh pasture and cool water; more importantly, he had to stay constantly alert to the many dangers that lurked around them – from thieves and robbers to natural predators such as wolves, bears and lions. During those years, David had to risk his own life to protect these vulnerable sheep. At that time, he had no way of knowing that one day he would stand on the battlefield on behalf of Israel and defeat the giant Goliath.
Similarly, when Zhuge Liang was quietly “ploughing the fields” in Nanyang, he also had no idea that he would one day become the Chancellor of Shu Han, and that his “Longzhong Plan” would go on to shape the course of the Three Kingdoms.Similarly, as an intern, I also have to do a number of repetitive tasks, some of which are not particularly exciting.
In the following sections, I will record a few key reflections from this internship.
Turning Work into Conversation
When my internship ended, my department supervisor shared a piece of experience with me: in real work, the things you learn at school that you can use directly may be less than 5%—even close to zero. What work really tests is whether you can explain things clearly, align information, and push problems forward while communicating with people from different fields and different departments.
In day-to-day work, I was often too shy to start a conversation—I didn’t dare to ask questions proactively, confirm details, interrupt someone for a few minutes to seek help, or speak up in meetings when I wasn’t fully sure.
But after the internship, I realized that many real bottlenecks aren’t in the technical side itself, but in communication. A timely confirmation, a clear question, or a short alignment can save a lot of detours. More importantly, communication isn’t “disturbing” others—it’s a form of responsibility: responsibility for progress, for quality, and for teamwork.
From Fear to Confidence
When I was a child, I heard a story that has stayed with me ever since. In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy visited NASA and saw a janitor cleaning the floor. When he asked, “What are you doing here?”, the janitor did not say, “I’m mopping the floor,” but replied, “Mr. President, I’m helping to put a man on the moon.”
The same work can be seen either as “just completing a task” or as “participating in a mission.” Even as an intern doing small things – cleaning data, preparing reports, calculating availability – if I see my work as part of a larger project, then I am also contributing to a bigger goal. This perspective helps me take my responsibilities more seriously and gives my work a deeper sense of meaning.
Therefore, for me it is crucial to overcome my inner fear, to work diligently in small things, and to carry out each task with confidence and a sense of purpose.
keep a curious and teachable heart
Among my friends, many are already tired of the repetitive rhythm of studying day after day. Perhaps this is because we human beings are often dissatisfied with where we are and start to see learning as a burden rather than a gift. Through this internship, however, I have realised that there is even more learning waiting for us in the workplace, and that this kind of continuous learning is not optional but necessary. For example, I used to think that TAFE courses were mainly designed for certain groups of people and had little to do with me. But seeing my supervisor enrol in TAFE classes to learn new skills really inspired me. It reminded me of Confucius’ saying, “When people walk together, there is always something I can learn from them” — there is always something to learn from others, in one way or another. It also showed me that even people with many years of work experience are still actively looking for ways to improve themselves through structured learning and training, rather than simply relying on what they already know. This, to me, is a very concrete picture of lifelong learning. This experience has reminded me that, no matter what stage of life I am in, it is important to keep a curious and teachable heart, to actively look for ways to grow, and to keep pursuing excellence rather than settling for “just enough.”
Faithful in the Small Things
Also, this internship has helped me understand much more deeply what it really means to be “faithful in the small things” and why it matters. That is why I chose Faithful in the Small Things as the title for this reflection.
Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the colleagues who have supported me during this internship. I have always considered myself fortunate, because in every difficult moment I have been able to receive help from others and unexpected kindness from circumstances. This is why I constantly remind myself to maintain a grateful heart and to remember how much of my journey has been made possible by the people around me.
Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my supervisor. He not only guided me from a professional perspective, but also looked after me with great patience and tried, as far as possible. Besides, he involve me in a wide range of projects so that I could learn and grow. I am also very grateful to my manager for giving me this internship opportunity, and to every colleague who welcomed me into the team and offered assist and support in any cases.
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