"My summer internship at Marriott Suites O’Hare was an experience I will always cherish. Going into the program, I had never seriously considered hospitality as a possible career path. I was excited to gain work experience, but I did not expect the internship to have such an impact on the way I view not only myself, but also the workforce as well as my future. Looking back, I can confidently say that this experience was life changing and gave me a perspective that I could have never gained from a classroom alone.

Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to experience many different parts of hotel operations. I worked mainly with the Food & Beverage and Events departments, where I helped with breakfast service, restocking the gift shop, setting up event spaces, and helping guests with their requests. I also learned about the importance of organization time management, communication, teamwork, and attention to detail. Being trusted with real responsibilities gave me a genuine taste of what it means to be part of a professional workplace.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was how important communication is. Over time, I became much more comfortable talking with guests, listening carefully, and communicating with coworkers. I learned that even simple interactions can make a difference in someone's experience. I also learned how important it is to know when to take initiative and work independently while still being willing to ask for help when necessary. These are the same skills that I know I will continue using throughout college, future jobs, and everyday life.

The internship also helped me understand what it means to be prepared for the workforce. I learned that being successful is not only about knowing how to complete a specific task. It is about being reliable, communicating effectively, adapting when things change, being willing to learn, taking initiative, and treating the people around you with respect. I gained everyday skills that I know will help me as I enter my senior year and eventually move into college and the workforce.

Most importantly, this experience changed the way I think about my future. Before this summer, hospitality was not something I had seriously considered. After working in a hotel and seeing how many different opportunities exist within the industry, I am now genuinely interested in exploring hospitality as a possible career path. I learned that sometimes you do not discover an interest by thinking about it beforehand, but you instead discover it by giving yourself the opportunity to experience something new.

I would absolutely recommend this program to other students. It provides students with something that is difficult to recreate in a classroom, which is the opportunity to experience a real workplace, interact with professionals, develop skills, and discover new possibilities for their future. It also gives students the chance to learn about themselves and understand what they value in a career and work environment.

I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to spend my summer at Marriott Suites O’Hare. I entered the program expecting to gain work experience, but I left with greater confidence, stronger communication and professional skills, a better understanding of the workforce, meaningful relationships, and a new perspective on my future. Most of all, I learned that stepping outside of what you already know can open doors you never expected to walk through. This summer gave me more than work experience. It gave me a new appreciation for hospitality, a better understanding of the people behind the services we often take for granted, and a clearer sense of the person and professional I want to become."

     - Haytham Belghali, Ridgewood High School