Bliss Blenman

Employee Benefits – Data Analytics Intern 2019
School Attending: The Pennsylvania State University

How do you describe your internship to someone you’ve just met?

The intern program here is tailored so we attend events and meetings every week. This gives us an opportunity to sit down and talk with senior leadership from each department and learn about each industry and specialty. As great as the professional aspect of the program is, I believe the social aspect is just as valuable. From the community service to the after-work events, we are able to build professional relationships very easily. This allows us interns to get to know each other better and also get to know Conner Strong team members too!

What’s your morning ritual, prior to heading into the office?

I like to wake up early around 4am and go to the gym. It acts as my cup of coffee and helps me get ready for the rest of my day. I like to get a jump-start on my day so I have more time in the afternoon to relax. After getting ready and dressed for work, I start my daily commute into the office.

What does your morning typically entail?

When I arrive at work, I’ll greet the rest of my team. I usually check in with the other interns, then get started on my work for the day.

What do you do for lunch?

My team and I will eat together in the café. I enjoy eating lunch with them because they’re a fun group of people. Sometimes people from other teams will join us as well. It is a nice time to have a casual conversation.

What does your afternoon typically entail?

I typically continue with the work I was doing before lunch. I like to finish any projects that I can before I leave for the day.

What do you love to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I like to keep myself busy.  I am a TA and tutor for the Statistics Department at Penn State. I grade exams and homework assignments over the summer and host online tutoring sessions after work. I am also a certified yoga instructor so in my free time, I continue to develop my practice. On the weekends, I really enjoy walking through Center City, Philadelphia. Almost every weekend, I will walk to Spruce Street Harbor to eat lunch. On my walk back home, I’ll stop at any events that might be going on.

Of the day you just described, what task/accomplishment makes you the proudest?

Being a tutor is something I am proud of because I like to see people learning and making progress with the subjects and topics that they could not grasp a few days earlier. The satisfaction that students get when they achieve a grade that they thought was impossible, makes me happy!

What is the best memory of your internship with Conner Strong & Buckelew so far?

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­My favorite memory at Conner Strong & Buckelew was definitely the bowling event. Being with all the interns out of the office was so much fun! It is not that often that all the interns are together at the same time. We were all just able to have a great time together.