An intern’s experience with remote work emphasizes the need for better broadband

Lexington, Kentucky (August 16, 2022) — I am an upcoming junior at the University of Dayton. This summer, I had a part-time internship in the Communications Department here at Connected Nation that was entirely remote. This was my first remote-work experience, and I found it wonderful! 

My experiences during the pandemic made the transition to teleworking much easier, as I was used to it in the educational environment. The majority of my first year at the University of Dayton was online. Learning to communicate with professors and classmates virtually during the school year helped make my internship run efficiently. 

Having high-speed internet was the key to making this possible. Without high-speed internet, I would have been unable to get tasks done and work effectively with Connected Nation’s many employees across the country. Without a proper connection, it can be difficult to talk with co-workers using videoconferencing apps such as Zoom. 

Another challenge that comes with working remotely is setting up a safe, distraction-free place to complete all tasks needed for your job. This can be especially hard if, like me, you are living with your whole family during summer break. It is important to set boundaries for yourself and create an atmosphere where you have as few distractions as possible. This could mean always wearing headphones, creating a home office, etc. 

While online work has its challenges, there are many advantages as well. One advantage is flexibility. During my internship this summer, it was easy to find times to connect with others at all hours from the comfort of everyone’s own homes. Cooperating with a team that’s located in so many different states would be impossible without online contact.

The many positive factors of remote work made my experience at Connected Nation a great one. With the proper resources and communication, your experience can be a positive one as well. 

Opportunities for remote work are increasing, and this is a good thing. According to Findstack.com, “Better work-life balance is the main reason why people choose to work remotely.”

With more remote jobs comes the need for better broadband, especially in rural areas. My internship taught me a lot of things, but the most important lesson I learned was: Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

About the Author: Isabel Pedersen is a Connected Nation Communications and Marketing Intern. Isabel provides support to the Communications division of Connected Nation. Isabel also assists with writing, company blogs and social media posting, website editing, and bringing creativity to new and existing communications materials.