As I step out of the box for a second to catch my breath, the nerves start to settle, and I finally feel myself becoming more confident. I feel like I am finally settling in, and picking up on things I did not as I was walking up to the plate. Every time I go on site I feel like I actually belong there.
In my next couple weeks on the job I’m picking up on even more phrases and terms. When we come across a problem, I feel like I know how to explain it rather well to anyone with questions. When I type up my daily reports, I feel like I’m actually a superintendent doing a report because I shadowed Ron for the day. If a subcontractor asks me something or tries to explain something, I can keep up and not feel like I’m lost in a whirlwind of confusion.
Over the past few weeks, I continued with what I was doing, whether it be working on Ferrari, Rockin’ Roastin’ or even Conneaut — except now I could do things more on my own rather than be so dependent on someone else and ask a million questions. Believe me, I still go to whatever superior when I need the help, but I’m settling in on my own. I’ve been able to help Ron out more and more on site whenever something may come up, whether it be something as simple as making sure that the area around Ferrari is cleaned and the workers are satisfied to helping type up an RFI for duct work inside the building. One day we were on site, and we came across a couple problems with relocating duct work, and I was able to help type up and RFI. Then later in the day, we came across another problem with some details in the one of the drawings, and unlike my first week I could actually follow what they were trying to explain to me.
Another one of the big tasks I had over the past couple weeks was ordering safety equipment for some of the superintendents. This was such a process because we were supposed to make one large order for everyone, but due to some jobs needing it more than others we had to make several smaller orders rather than one large one. Also, one of the problems we encountered ordering was that some of the jobs we had ordered stuff for were as far as Maine, and we were trying to figure out how to get the materials up there. We worked it out and decided the next time there was a meeting someone would bring it to the site, and as for the other jobs they were all close enough to where we could drive them to the sites. I also had to type up a document stating what job each item was for because we got so much for multiple jobs it was hard to keep track for the billing.
Although I had a lot to do with the safety equipment being ordered and typing RFIs, the most nerve-racking task came when Ron had to go to a meeting for another job, so I was at Ferrari on my own doing work. I was fairly confident and knew what I had to do, but still it was my first time being alone on the job site. It was fine; all I really needed to do was make sure that the offices at Ferrari were not a mess, and to make sure that any little trash was all picked up — but within the first 5 minutes of being alone a subcontractor came in and was looking for Ron. I told him he was at a meeting and would be back soon. The guy needed to move a lift off sight though so it could not wait for Ron. It was simple enough moving the lift, but being the first task I had without Ron being there, I did not want to do anything to screw it up. Once the guy started moving the lift out it took all of 2 minutes and I realized I was psyching myself out. Then, just as I said before all I had to do was do some light cleaning just to prepare for the car salesmen and women coming in at 9. I could not tell you how many times I went over the same spot with the Swiffer and vacuum. Even these little tasks I was doing made me actually feel like I was making a difference though. I was doing as much as I could to help all the subcontractors on sight. Obviously, I do not have the experience and knowledge that Ron has, but I was able to do something to help these guys out rather than just sit there being useless. It’s a satisfying feeling being able to do something just to help out the people working inside.
So I step back in the box, the pitcher gets in his stretch. I tighten my grip, and rear back. The pitcher hums it in, I swing and hit it foul down the left field line. Strike 1.
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