An Unexpected Lesson

The week before my internship ended, I was practicing for my internship project presentation when I stopped to take a phone call from my mom. It was a Thursday morning, exactly one week before the GROWMARK internship conclusion meeting, and I found out that my grandpa had passed away.

That day was mostly a blur. I was repeatedly given the option to go home, but my grandparents lived out of state, so I chose to stay at work the rest of the day. I don’t remember what I did the rest of the day, or even the rest of that week, but I do remember the kindness and compassion of my coworkers. The cards, hugs, and quiet understanding I received from fellow interns and other employees during those two weeks are some of my biggest takeaways from this internship experience.

The individuals I met during my 12 weeks at GROWMARK demonstrated a level of caring that surpassed any company culture I previously experienced. Throughout my internship, I spent most of my time exploring what a communications position entails, but I didn’t stop to consider what it was about this organization that really makes it unique. I’ve enjoyed working for other companies, but this was the first environment where I could see myself building a career.

There is a saying about a company only being as good as its employees, and that is exactly why I think GROWMARK has been successful. The company vision is to be the best agricultural cooperative system in North America, and they are achieving it by hiring the best people. GROWMARK fosters a culture that turns coworkers into friends, and friends into family.

As my internship ends and I begin my search for full time employment, I know exactly what attributes I am looking for in a company, and what values matter the most to me as an employee. As difficult as the past two weeks have been, I am determined to remember the lesson I’ve learned: you can’t put a price tag on company culture. 

By: Becca Dwyer