Google Internship: Mid-Summer Update

If you keep up with my blog, you would have read that getting this Google internship was not beans (easy) and if you are familiar with Google at all, you will know that they are extremely selective when it comes to choosing interns. Apparently, their selection rate is at a whopping 2-3%. Can you imagine? According to sources, getting a Google internship is even more selective than getting into any of the IVY Leagues. I say all of this to say that during the first few weeks of my time here at Google, I did not think that I was worthy. Whenever I bike to work on the colorful Google bikes and scan my ID badge to get into where I work, I always look at my badge and wonder if it is really my face on the badge. Honestly speaking, I still do not think that I am worthy of being here but the intern team at Google did a really good job of reiterating the fact that if we are all here, we are here for a specific reason – not by chance.

Over the course of six weeks, I have learned a great deal about myself and that was my main goal for this summer: to really step out of my comfort zone and to indulge in self-care and self-love. After experiencing a series of “difficult” moments in my life, I learned the hard way that I really need to take care of myself – if not for myself, then at least for my family and loved ones.

The first four weeks of my internship was spent between orientation and a series of training. At some point I was trying to figure out if we would actually get the chance to start the job because we spent so much time in training. When we started our core role and went over what our hosts and managers expected from us, I realized that this internship was going to be different. Not good, not bad, just different. Let me explain.

Prior to coming to Google, all of the internships and positions I have held focused on multiple projects and not metrics based on everyday interactions and activities. One of the key things that Google looks for in a prospective “Googler” is their ability to navigate ambiguity. Basically, you have to be comfortable not knowing anything but at the same time you have to be open and willing to learn. Personally, I really struggled with this idea because although I can be flexible and adaptable, I am also an avid planner and I like to know what I am doing to the T, or at least have some idea. During the first few weeks, I was not really hitting my metrics – I was doing just okay but I was not doing that well – at least not to my personal standards. There were days when I would go home and I felt so down and wanted to seriously pack up my bags and fly home but I would always laugh at myself in the mirror and tell myself,

“You are a product of the Asaman Kani Royal Family. Do you have any idea what that means? It means you cannot quit. We did not come to Google to play – we came to excel, and that is exactly what we will do. Excel.”

I always felt ten times better and of course with pep talks from my family combined with constant prayers and using the resources available to me at work, I started to notice a big improvement.  Here are some highlights (and “lowlights”) from the first six weeks of my internship:

I spent the first three weeks exploring the area and after our first week, the Intern Team at Google treated us to a Giants game up in San Francisco. When they sent out the logistics email, they mentioned that we should bring a jacket, scarf, gloves, etc. and I thought to myself, “Why would I take a jacket? It’s going to be sunny up in SF.” Boy was I wrong! The weather dropped drastically to a whopping 50 degrees. Yup, 50 degrees! That was definitely a lowlight and although I should have learned my lesson, somehow I always forget to take a jacket or a light sweater whenever I go up to San Francisco.

Week 4: Hiking at Twin Peaks 

I decided to go hiking with a couple of friends at Twin Peaks and it was great. One of my goals for the summer is to meet as many new people as possible and do more “outdoorsy” things. The trail was pretty intense for me because I am way out of shape and severely anemic, however, the group I went with were super nice and we took several breaks in order for me to catch my breath. Most of the time, I was trailing behind them but the important thing to me was that I actually made it to the top – irrespective of how much time it took. My hiking experience was a great example of the idea that success may take a long time for you to attain it but as long as you work hard towards it, you will reap the full benefits. After the intense hike to Twin Peaks, I met up with an old friend and explored Coit Tower.

Week 5: Carmel by the Sea

A fellow intern planned a trip for our intern group to visit Carmel by the Sea and I was really excited to go. Having lived in Northern California for a few weeks now, I knew that it was not going to be like a typical beach day on the East Coast. When we got to the beach, I saw people wearing jackets. Yes, jackets. It was extremely cold and the water was freezing! As the day went on, we got a just a bit of sunshine but it was still really cold. Thankfully, I had a jean jacket and was able to keep warm.

Week 6: The Intern Boat Cruise

Prior to starting at Google, I heard great things about how Google really takes care of their employees and I had been looking forward to the intern boat cruise for the longest time! Overall, the cruise was great. I put my photography/videography hat on and captured a lot of great moments. You can view the video I put together here. Let me just say, the boat cruise was lit.

With six weeks down and a few more weeks to go, I am still learning and most importantly I am living. Everyone at Google is so incredibly smart and I am extremely grateful to God for this opportunity. As always, enjoy the pictures below and stay tuned for my next blog post about the latter half of my internship experience!

Stay adventurous, dear friends, and always remember to stay golden. All ways, always.

Sincerely,

Samuella

Intern Boat Cruise Video

Googleplex

Giants Game

Giants vs. Phillies Game

Caltrain Statio & Multicolored Tesla

Stern Grove Music Festival featuring Janelle Monáe

Google Bikes

Views from Google’s San Francisco Office

Black Googlers Network (BGN) Vigil

Views from Twin Peaks

Views from Twin Peaks

Coit Tower

Views from Coit Tower

Views from Coit Tower

Views from Coit Tower

Views from Coit Tower

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea