MY SIWES JOURNEY MONTH 3
Phew! It's taken me a few days to distill the experiences of this month into words. This particular stretch was a crucial juncture, prompting me to pause and reevaluate my progress. I asked myself, “Am I genuinely advancing? Am I truly absorbing knowledge?” This month held the answers.
To my loyal readers who have been with me through months 1 and 2, big thanks! If you haven’t checked out those adventures yet, here’s month 1 and month 2. I strongly recommend giving them a read before delving into this Journey. There won’t be any cake and wine for this month, just grab yourself a cup of coffee. ☕
As we venture into the third month of my SIWES, I can confidently assert that I’ve gleaned substantial insights as a product manager. Crafting Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and project closure reports, with each iteration, saw me elevate my proficiency. It wasn’t without its challenges. I vividly recall that pivotal Wednesday when I found myself tasked with writing the Project closure reports for all our completed projects. My Senior PM jokingly remarked, “You don see work now abi?” I almost cried😂. But thank God! I scaled through.
This month, I encountered a series of challenges that ignited a transformation within me. Being a product manager is far more than document creation and task delegation. Can you devise solutions to complex problems? Can you effectively communicate your product vision to stakeholders and developers alike? Can you strategize for market penetration through astute analysis? Can you chart a clear roadmap for your product’s evolution?
And you know what? I’m loving every bit of it! Why? Because at the end of the day, I’m crafting something real that solves a real-world problem. That’s a milestone right there! 🩷
We wrapped up our existing projects this month, paving the way for new endeavors. Remember EventBuddy from last month's article, oh yeah! The completion of EventBuddy was a notable achievement, necessitating the addition of an extra developer to our team. (Inyang Johnson, a front-end Developer).
Following project closures, we had a Wednesday meeting with our director, Mr. Shammah Nei. We brainstormed ways to supercharge Renaissance Innovation Labs and actually live up to its name — innovate! We shifted our focus from AI to explore another emerging technology— Augmented Reality (AR). We also ventured into hardware projects, leveraging the expertise of our engineering graduates. In the end, we settled on four projects:
- A lab fingerprint sensor
- Reprogramming a mini drone for specific tasks
- An AR furniture try-on application, and
- An AR event filter for Snapchat.
While digging into the research and crafting PRDs, I realized these were more than just projects — they were exciting opportunities. Augmented reality is an exciting frontier I’m eager to explore further.
P.S. VR gaming is on my bucket list! 🙈
Each projects PRDs I wrote was reviewed by my senior PM, and dedicated teams were assigned to ensure their success.
To wrap up this month, we had a career session at the lab, where my senior PM (Ayaosi Godfrey), spoke to us on optimizing our LinkedIn profile and portfolio’s, positioning ourselves for job opportunities and engaging with recruiters. The insights gained, especially concerning LinkedIn, were eye-opening. I promptly updated my profile, which you can view here. Furthermore, our HR representative, Emmanuel Stephen, and Director, Shammah Nei shared invaluable guidance on crafting compelling resumes and cover letters, along with essential interview preparation tips. These were all insightful sessions.
And yeah! 🎉 We celebrated the September and October birthday celebrants the end of this month. There was cake, singing of the happy birthday song, laughter, writing and reading of birthday cards— it was a fun and wonderful moment. At Renaissance Innovation Labs, we’re not just focused on innovating, but we also take out time to relax and unwind for a bit. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy, right?!😉
This month, I found myself confronted with a deluge of responsibilities, but my faith sustained me. I clung to the words of Philippians 4:6–7, which says.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
His faithfulness remains unwavering, a testament to a God who keeps His promises. I am grateful for the supportive individuals in my life and for the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. If you’re reading this while facing your own challenges, remember that God invites you to lay your concerns before Him in prayer. He not only hears but eagerly anticipates your conversation. No need to stress, just lay it all out to God. 🩷
And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. 😁 Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. (2Cor. 13:11)
If you enjoyed this brief article/reflection, I invite you to share your thoughts or reach out to me on Medium. Kindly give a virtual clap of encouragement here on medium. 👏 You can also connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn. Thank you! Have an amazing month. Cheers. 🎉🥂
