If you could be any type of material, what type of material would you be and why? My answer would be a “sponge.” No… I don’t want to be Sponge Bob Square Pants and sing songs under the sea that make kids laugh, but instead an actual sponge.

A tool or cleaning aid, a sponge is used for cleaning impervious surfaces and is especially good at soaking up or absorbing water or water-based solutions. In addition, a sponge can be soft or firm and is commonly made from cellulose wood fibers or foamed plastic polymers. While you and I may not be made from wood fibers or plastic polymers, we are made based on values, skills, strengths and our experiences. Combined, these create the opportunity for each of us to be a sponge in any new experience by knowing what we do well and what needs further development.

When a new experience enters our life, whether it be an internship, job, networking opportunity, or even a personal experience – it is our responsibility to make the most of any given situation/experience. If we only do what is expected of us or the basic requirements for a job or task, how much growth, development and learning will take place…the answer is very little. Instead, if we go into a new experience representing a “sponge,” we have the opportunity to soak up/absorb a tremendous amount of knowledge, skill, and experience; thus making the most of that opportunity.

For instance, let’s say you are about to begin a summer internship at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH for short) and you will be working with their Policy Team. You have two choices: 1) you could simply go in, do the job and make your supervisor happy; or 2) you could instead go in and not only do the job and make your supervisor happy but make yourself just as happy. Here are some examples of things you could do in this situation that would be more of a “sponge” approach:

• Consider taking on additional projects outside of the Policy Team, possibly with cross-functional areas
• Conduct informational interviews with professionals doing the type of work that interests you; get referrals both internal and external to MDH
• Volunteer in other areas of MDH or at MDH sponsored events
• Attend training seminars or workshops; seek out resources
• Ask questions – gain clarification on areas that interest you or that you are not as familiar with
• Keep a journal of your experience – what did you do, how did you feel about it (what did you like and or not like), what notes did you derive from the experience, who did you work with, etc.

Now that you’ve completed the absorption process of the experience, it is now time to learn how and when to drain it. No matter what situation – never drain the entire sponge all at once, instead only drain what is needed…and then absorb it back up to be used in the future. There are several situations for which draining your sponge would be appropriate and encouraged:

During an Interview: what you absorbed throughout each of your experiences can be applied to a multitude of interview questions, especially behavioral interview questions (e.g. Tell me about a time when…) and when asked about a time you went above and beyond expectations.

When Networking: whether you are networking within a larger group or in a one-on-one situation, having the ability to talk about how you made the most of your experience and the expanded network you developed is beneficial.

Working on a Team Project: we have all found ourselves in situations where potential conflicts or problems may exist and we remember a time we went through something similar – this is no different. Draw upon your past experience in order to aid you in the present.

On your Resume: Trying to recall accomplishments and all the nitty-gritty details of the many projects you worked on is not always easy – let your sponge come to the rescue and provide the detail needed to enhance your marketability for future opportunities.

In Personal Statements: Many of the degree programs that exist ask for a personal statement, one that asks you to dig deep and explain the meaning and motivation for why you are choosing to pursue this field of study. Your sponge can provide the specific stories and milestones you could use to frame your statement.

As you embark on your newest experience, remember to bring with you the one tool that will last a lifetime – your “sponge”!