Before going to Alcoa, I did a bit of research to form a basic understanding of the company. All I knew was that Alcoa had something to do with aluminum. However, when I walked into the building, the first thing I noticed that was different from other companies, was the art in the entrance. It set up a fun mood, but also a bit of mystery because I did not expect such a spontaneous setting. I was blown away by the minor details, from the fancy bathrooms to the fancy sandwiches, which was a common reaction from my peers.
I learned from the various mentors in the room that they still have passions, outside of work, that they would like to incorporate in their daily lives. Most of the women seemed to have career changes along the way, but a few have worked at Alcoa for many years! It was reassuring to know the women felt like they were able to achieve other dreams along with their careers. It seemed like many of the panelists had the idea of giving back to their communities as a common goal and that really made me feel secure. I felt that I too can take similar actions to help others. However, it did make me realize I needed a structural stance.
A successful company like Alcoa seemed intimidating once I learned how big it was, with its many departments, but the mentors created such an open atmosphere. Also, it was challenging when everyone separated into small groups because my fellow teen group members were all similar. Everyone was shy about expressing themselves so I had to take the lead, which is something I am not really comfortable doing. However, the mentors gave us hints and actually worked hands on with us.
Overall, it was a great experience and I learned that I can do a lot of different jobs at Alcoa. Oh and of course, I cannot forget the generosity of the company when they gave Step Up a grant. They definitely do more than just produce aluminum!
