Cannon Internship: Kiran's Experience at Notre Dame

Prior to this trip, I felt like I had developed a strong understanding of what Cannon is and who we serve. However, experiencing Cannon Schools in person made me realize how much perspective I was missing and how much more there was for me to learn. I enjoyed every moment of this experience, but I want to share some of the highlights!

1. Trust II Class
   On the second day of classes, I was able to sit in on a few sessions of Trust II with Myles McHale. It was super interesting to experience the student side of schools and put myself in their shoes. I got to experience Myles’ engaging teaching style that keeps students actively involved and thinking critically. His ability to connect complex concepts to real-world scenarios made the sessions both accessible and impactful. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the quality of instruction Cannon provides and made me even more confident in the work we do.
2. Gaining New Perspectives
   During my time at Cannon, I have heard so much from my coworkers about our schools. It’s difficult to truly grasp something like this without experiencing it for yourself, which is why I’m so glad I had this opportunity. From preparation to execution, I saw the effort, detail, and teamwork that is required to put on Cannon’s Schools. Seeing the behind-the-scenes coordination helped me understand the intentionality behind every aspect of the program, from the curriculum to the hospitality, and how it all contributes to a meaningful learning experience. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for our schools team who go out to schools, bringing Cannon’s mission to life with nothing but positive attitudes, hard work, and dedication to delivering an incredible experience to our students.
3. Meeting Cannon Students
   The overall highlight of this entire experience for me was getting to know the people that come to Cannon Schools. Leaving for this trip, I was nervous. I’m a 22-year-old intern majoring in Public Relations; how could I keep up with so many experienced professionals in the financial services industry?
   I came to realize that these professionals are still people. All of them have lives spanning well past the bounds of their job. In the conversations I was having, our job status was the least interesting thing about us. Once I removed the pressure of “keeping up” and saying the exact right thing, I was able to fully enjoy getting to know and learn about all the people I was meeting.
   Overall, this taught me a vital lesson: you don’t have to be similar to someone in order to get along with them and have great conversations. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences made every interaction richer, and I left feeling more confident in myself and connected to the people we serve at Cannon.