Project Management
I learned effective project management from writing my Senior Thesis. Although we have had an entire semester to work on our research paper, it is easy to leave all of the work to the last minute and rush to put together a 20 page paper in a week. However, I have learned how to structure my time to allow myself to write a paper I will be proud to present. By organizing a semester plan for my paper, I could then break down what I needed to accomplish each week and even each day in order to do adequate research and writing. I learned to set weekly and monthly goals for myself in order to finish my bibliography, annotated bibliography, and abstract when they were due.
Adaptability
I learned adaptability exploring the streets of Athens and exploring Greece. Without cellular data, getting lost in Athens is easy. The street names do not always coincide with what they are named on Google Maps and some of the smaller streets do not have a name displayed at all. I learned how to trust my own instincts while trying to find places like the National Museum of Archaeology or the Acropolis while traveling solo. Although I was a female traveling alone in a foreign country, I learned to navigate my way around Greece so that I could see iconic sites like Delphi. Even the best laid plans can go wrong if you miss a bus or get off at the wrong stop. Therefore, I learned how to stay calm in stressful situations and look for alternative solutions.
Teamwork
I learned teamwork from working with my classmates on Despotiko. Nothing brings people together quicker than 5 hour work days on an archaeological dig site. Heavy buckets full of dirt are lighter when two people carry them together. Pottery is washed quicker when a group washes together rather than an individual. We learned that the work was easier when we all held ourselves and our teammates accountable for part of the work. We encouraged each other when we were tired and we one another when asked. We celebrated everyone's individual discoveries as well as team accomplishments. Together, we excavated two buildings in our complex and our discoveries changed the analysis of the complex as a whole.
Leadership
I learned how to be a good leader in Greece. We took weekend trips as a group to islands like Naxos and Paros. One weekend we decided to take a trip to Santorini. The night before we were supposed to leave, we still did not have a place to stay. I made a decision and booked an AirBnB in Fira only to discover the next morning that our teacher had a friend on the island that we could have stayed with. Nevertheless, I had made the decision for the group and I felt responsible to make sure the weekend ran smoothly. I made sure the group stayed together when we got off the ferry at Santorini and found transportation to the hotel. The next morning I found transportation for the group to the main part of Santorini and made sure everyone got on the bus when we went back to the hotel. Although it was a hectic weekend, it taught me how to be a good leader when others relied on me.