This course in the fall semester gave me a unique perspective on the Fed challenge, as a majority of the team had already been working on our project since the spring. Instead of starting from scratch, I entered directly into the challenge with a foundation my teammates had already curated and needed polishing. Forced to quickly learn through observation, I immersed myself into the group effort and had to understand our approach and collective focal points to get us our monetary policy recommendation. While I had prior experience through my Money & Banking course that was very similar to the structure of our assignment, Practicum and the Fed Challenge turned my general knowledge into in-depth understanding. 

One of the biggest things I quickly learned was both how dynamic and interconnected macroeconomic analysis is. Monetary policy is built from several intertwining parts, such as labor markets, inflation, financial conditions, tariffs, etc., all points in our presentation. All of these driving forces affect each other and are key factors in decision making for policy decision making. 

Furthermore, I learned how to appreciate the effectiveness and importance of clear communication in economics. Given that I joined the group late, a large portion of my role consisted of polishing slides, simplifying visuals, and making information more ingestible. Throughout this process of trial and error, in making our presentation as strong as possible, I realized how even a strong economic argument with supporting data and information can even lose its impact if its presentation is not clear. Learning the best way to properly deliver our arguments and give us a more competitive edge in the competition taught me how essential presentation quality is. 

Finally, the value of environment and mentorship became extremely apparent to me throughout the course of the semester. This course was a very intimate environment where all of our teammates became extremely close through our collaborative effort towards our shared goal. In addition to this, we bonded with our professor, getting to truly know each other and gain valuable feedback. This discussion driven course gave me exposure to different ways of thinking and showed me how important a positive work environment is. Professor Smirnova showed us how truly and deeply invested she is into her students, pushing us to raise our standards and be as professional as we can be. 

Economic interconnectedness, the significance of communication, and the impact of both peers and mentors served as the foundation in my gained knowledge through practicum. This course aided in my development of career competencies that will certainly carry over into my future endeavors. 

As I joined the team after initial roles were assigned, I ensured I did all that I could to make a proper contribution as a support role. I strengthened my communication skills through simplifying complex material, making it concise and accessible for the best delivery of our presentation. I learned the importance of not only just accuracy, but clarity in effective communication. Throughout this collaborative process, I was able to communicate with my teammates, understand where they came from, process that information and find ways to improve our project. I saw firsthand the importance of active listening, in both communicating and processing information. In doing so, with a larger emphasis, I was able to make suggestions and corrections for my teammates. 

Additionally, practicum aided my sense of professionalism. Throughout the Fed Challenge, I balanced full-time coursework with a shipping internship and a job as a server. I had to stay reliable and disciplined in my attendance and contribution to the group. Managing my time carefully and showing up was essential as I strived to do my fair share of work. Professor Smirnova reinforced this as her direct feedback was oftentimes blunt but descended from genuine care for us students and high expectations. Accepting criticism without letting emotions affect my reactions showed me what it means to work professionally. I became more accountable and prepared, always conscious of my contribution to the team. 

Finally, teamwork is bridged through the combination of professionalism and communication. As I did not lead a specific sector, I made sure to support my teammates wherever they needed help. Given each teammate having different analytical styles, communication styles, and even perspectives as to how things should flow, I had to be flexible in working collaboratively. I had to pair my active listening with the integration of diverse ideas. This collaborative environment allowed our teammates to form close relationships, making the project an overall shared experience that had a positive outcome regardless of our placement in the challenge. 

If I had the opportunity to retake this course, there are several things I would have done differently in my approach to the project. Firstly, I would have tried to join earlier, possibly in the spring, when the opportunity first presented itself to me. I had academic uncertainty that affected my decision making, however, I ultimately would have joined earlier. Joining in the fall and missing class after Labor Day meant that I was not able to take ownership of a specific economic sector in the presentation. Instead, I had a support role that meant I was supporting existing sections rather than creating my own data story sector from beginning to end. Had I joined earlier, I would have preferred to work on labor markets and build greater expertise within the topic, being better informed about real world events that directly contribute to its outcomes. 

Secondly, I would have established better structure and deadlines as to when we worked on certain aspects of the project. I could have been better at balancing my commitments and should have been more vocal about what I thought we could do.  Furthermore, I would have taken better advantage of Professor Smirnova’s mentorship. Class finished late, and often I would head straight home. If I could do it over, I would have stayed after with the Professor for help understanding certain topics and getting better guidance in my tasks. The Professor always made herself available for us and wanted us to come to her for whatever we needed; I should have done more of this. I am proud of my role this semester, as well as the bonds I have made with both my classmates and Professor Smirnova, however, I know that starting earlier with more responsibility would have made me more determined and committed to perfecting our presentation 

This is an unforgettable experience. Professor Smirnova is the best of the best, she truly cares for her students, and her priority is for them to succeed. She helped us through the entirety of the challenge and the process behind it, as well as ensuring to make this a fun learning experience at the same time. I am grateful to have experienced such a course where I gained several new friends and a mentor in the form of our Professor. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to be pushed out of their comfort zone and learn in a positive, hands-on environment