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Finishing finals week of your senior year in college is an exciting time – a lot of celebration, feelings of accomplishment and just an overall joy for completing school. This past May, I graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with my bachelor’s degree in corporate communications. Walking across the stage with my name blaring in the background was one of the greatest moments of my life… it was euphoric almost.

It was after that moment where the celebrations began to die down, that the realization of not coming back to school next fall, and the constant questions of my future began to create a hazy uncertainty in the back of my mind. I will tell you this…nothing kills your graduation buzz more than the question “Where will you be working now that you are graduated?” That question sends a dagger in the heart and a shiver up the spine for any recent college graduate. It leaves you mute with a blank stare on your face where you then awkwardly smile and say something along the line of “my current future is unknown” and “I am moving back in with my parents.”

There are only so many denials that one person can take in their life and most of those will come to you when applying for jobs post-graduation. There is nothing worse than when you receive an e-mail that begins with the line … “Hello Bridget, although you are well-qualified for this position, we have decided to go with another candidate…” – another dagger in my heart.

The process went on, only this time, I was packing up my apartment getting ready to drive back to Michigan – it was as if all hope was lost. My Dad had planned a “Father-Daughter” road trip for us where I would be stuck in the car while he lectured me about where my life was going and what I was going to do. As the moving process continued, I was carrying a box outside when my roommate yelled from the window, “Bridget, a 3-1-3 number is calling you!” I ran up the stairs and grabbed the phone, it was as if an angel was calling me! Human Resources recruiter, Steven Winkler, from Quicken Loans, called to tell me that he would like to offer me an internship position with his company in the Licensing and Training Team. It was at that moment that I felt relief. I had no idea what this internship was nor did I really know about Quicken Loans at all…but I did accept! It was an internship…a paid internship! Hallelujah!

The morning of my first day at Quicken Loans felt like I was a child on my first day of pre-school, but that might have been because my dad was driving me. We drove down Woodward with anticipation – I truly had no idea what to expect. I was then dropped off at Campus Martius with my dad yelling “Good Luck!” from the car window. Walking into the Compuware building was an experience in itself. I then proceeded to meet all of the interns, many of whom are in my same position – all excited to have a job!

I am now in the middle of my seventh week here at Quicken Loans, and I have enjoyed every aspect of it. This was an internship opportunity that I am so thankful for having. It has given me the opportunity to express myself while also learning about the mortgage banking industry. Working hands-on with training materials and also with employees from all locations has shown me how important this specific team is to the entire company. We have had the opportunity to create our own materials that are actually being used which is a great feeling of accomplishment!

This experience has been also an opportunity for me to explore Detroit and remember why I love this city so much. I haven’t been around much for the past four years, due to attending school in Milwaukee, and as much as I adore Milwaukee, I am learning more and more about Detroit and am excited to be a part of the Detroit comeback. Every day during lunch or after work, I walk around outside and see all of the young professionals out in Campus Martius listening to a live concert in the park or just walking around the city exploring. To all those who think Detroit is dead, they are wrong. This city is alive – and it is companies like Quicken Loans pumping energy and life back into it every day.

My advice to all people who are still in college … Don’t Graduate!!! Just kidding, but hopefully you are able to find a company as amazing as Quicken Loans!

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