The Transition

EATER86 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:10:00 GMT

Transitioning from a full-time undergrad student to a full-time employee was pretty smooth. I began my Trinity career in May of this year as a part-time intern, taking multiple trips from school (University of California, Irvine) to work on any given day in order to squeeze in as many 'billable' hours as I could. Upon graduation, I was taken on as a full-time hire. Needless to say, there really wasn't a 'transitional period' for me. Most of the time I'm happy, and proud to have a stable job so early in life. But there are those days when I get invited to "social gatherings" and declined to attend because doing emissions calculations for a resin production facility while hugging the office toilet would not impress office managers much. I was one of those students where my social and academic life were both given top priority. Ok who am I kidding. The social aspect of college was what took up the biggest chunk of my life for the last four years, and suddenly declining invitations was very new to me. Having to wake up at 7am everyday to get in to work by 8am five days a week was also new, since I never took nor attended classes before 11am. Yea I know that guys have it lucky in the morning and only need a fraction the time compared to the gals to get ready in the morning. That's the guys extra hour of the day which I usually spend sleeping or reading Maxim. Lucky me.

Thinking that I've already been with Trinity for five months is pretty ridiculous because it sure doesn't feel like five months. Being the youngest (I'm still learning how to avoid "Free Candy" signs spray-painted on a rusty '96 Dodge cargo van) and most recently hired consultant in the office tends to play tricks on my mind, making me think that everyday is my first day.

It's the business lunch I attended yesterday with BP's Environmental Co-ordinator (Long Beach), and the week-long site visits (I'll be in Colorado for a whole week next week doing some compliance task management) that reminds me how much I've learned in the past 5 months. Trinity tough me more in the past five months than California school system has in 16-17 years. Big surprise.

All in all, it's been a great start for me, and I can't wait to start getting my hands dirty on some AB-32 related projects.