This submit was authored by Kanak Sabhnani, a current technical intern on the Safety Group. 
What if I advised you that the place the place I healed from an harm, found a brand new model of myself, and made lifelong buddies wasn’t a hospital or a school — however a tech firm?
Sounds unreal, proper? However that place exists, and for me, it was Cisco.
Let me take you again. After I acquired chosen for an internship at Cisco, I used to be thrilled. However beneath that pleasure was a wave of hysteria.
This was my first in-person internship — my earlier one had been utterly digital. The considered assembly new folks, navigating an actual workplace, being away from household and buddies, and adjusting to life in Bangalore scared me. I’m an introvert by nature, so the thought of breaking out of my shell in a brand new atmosphere felt overwhelming.
However then I stepped onto Cisco’s campus.
There was a direct sense of heat. The vibe wasn’t what I anticipated from a company house — it felt extra like a full of life school campus. The onboarding actions organized by the Speed up crew have been genuinely participating, like one involving scanning a card and asking folks inquiries to earn factors. For somebody like me who normally avoids initiating conversations, this was a breakthrough. That day, I spoke to extra folks than I had in months — and surprisingly, I loved it.
However life had different plans.
On simply my second day, whereas heading again to my shared housing, I met with an accident. A ligament tear in my ankle meant one and a half months of strict mattress relaxation. Being new to the town, away from household, and unable to stroll, I used to be terrified.
My first thought was, “How will I handle work?” However Cisco didn’t simply give me an internship — it gave me a assist system.
First, I reached out to my hiring supervisor. Not solely did he reply shortly, however he referred to as me the identical day. He requested about my well being and provided assist. That second reassured me that I wasn’t alone.
My supervisor was extremely form. Throughout our one-on-one, he advised me to not fear about work and to give attention to getting higher. It’s uncommon to seek out managers who genuinely prioritize your well-being over duties, particularly whenever you’re nonetheless an intern.
Much more touching was the assist from my co-interns. Regardless of barely realizing me, they stayed linked — checking in, serving to with every day stuff, and simply being there to speak after I felt low. One night, just a few even stayed again with me for hours simply to assist me get a cab. It was in these little moments of care, I noticed Cisco wasn’t only a office. It was my protected house.
I’m an intern with the Cisco Safety crew. My function started with backend growth, and halfway by the internship, I started transitioning into frontend to construct full-stack abilities. My studying journey was well-structured. My supervisor prioritized my progress by specializing in upskilling me, which ready me to tackle duties with confidence.
Even whereas recovering from my harm, I stayed concerned by digital conferences. Weekly Thursday demos with my mentor, tech lead, and supervisor have been my anchors. They stored me motivated and jogged my memory that though I wasn’t there in individual, I used to be nonetheless meaningfully contributing.
As soon as I returned to the workplace, all the pieces felt brighter. The social occasions, chai socials, jam classes on the Vedic Tea Spot, and taking part in pool with buddies — all of it helped me really feel like myself once more. Not solely did I heal bodily, however emotionally too.
Right here’s what I’ve realized:
- Don’t underestimate the ability of a supportive atmosphere. At Cisco, folks transcend roles — they care.
- In case you’re ever in a tricky state of affairs — whether or not it’s beginning a brand new job or going by a private setback — the proper crew could make all of the distinction.
- Be part of Cisco for the tech, but in addition for the individuals who’ll examine in on you, cheer to your small wins, and be there whenever you want somebody.
- Therapeutic doesn’t all the time occur in silence. Typically, it occurs in laughter-filled hallways, heartfelt one-on-ones, and late-night chats with teammates who turn out to be buddies.
- I didn’t simply be taught tech at Cisco — I realized how sturdy I may very well be after I had the proper folks round me.
That’s why I #LoveWhereYouWork. As a result of right here, I didn’t simply work. I healed, grew, and found a brand new model of myself. And that’s one thing I’ll carry with me eternally.
Are you prepared to find a brand new model of your self, too? Try profession alternatives right here.
Subscribe to the WeAreCisco Weblog.
Share:
