From Student to Intern: My First Week Stepping Into the Professional World at JKUAT

By Grace Wendo  

Starting my attachment at JKUAT’s Social Media and Customer Relations Department has been one of the most eye-opening transitions from student life into the professional world. As a student, you picture office work as just typing away at a computer or answering the occasional call but my first week in the call center taught me there's so much more to it.

Day One: The Nerves Hit Different

I arrived early, not knowing what to expect. I was introduced to the call center section, where incoming calls from students, parents, and external stakeholders are received and handled. Everyone seemed confident and focused, answering calls like second nature. I remember thinking, “How am I ever going to be that calm and quick?”

But the team was incredibly supportive. They took their time to show me around, explain how the system works, and slowly guide me into the routine.

Learning to Listen and Speak 

One of the first skills I picked up was how to operate a landline phone system something I had never done before. I was taught how to receive, transfer and make official calls in a clear, polite, and professional tone. At first, I fumbled, especially when trying to remember who to transfer which calls to but with guidance and practice, I improved each day.

I also got to make outgoing calls, particularly inviting students for interviews required before they graduate. At first, I felt nervous. What if they asked me questions I couldn’t answer? What if I messed up? But the more I did it, the more confident I became. It felt good to be trusted with real responsibilities.

Organization Behind the Scenes

Aside from handling calls, another key task I was assigned involved email documentation. I learned how to log received emails and responses into an Excel spreadsheet a task that sounds simple, but really trained me in attention to detail, organization and keeping accurate records.

This gave me a behind-the-scenes look into how important proper communication records are, especially in a large institution like JKUAT where thousands of inquiries come in every week.

What I’ve Learned So Far

In just a week, I have learned more than I ever expected. Some highlights:

Communication is both an art and a skill it’s not just what you say, but how you say it.

Professional etiquette matters, especially when dealing with worried parents or confused students.

Small tasks are part of big systems even entering emails in Excel plays a role in smooth service delivery.

Looking Ahead

If this is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see what the coming weeks have in store. This attachment has already helped me grow in confidence, communication and patience. I’m no longer just a student I’m part of a team that represents JKUAT to the world, one phone call and email at a time.