🌱 Seeds of Growth: Katherine's CWS Experience

Starting with the Details: Building Foundations at Tarlson & Associates
As a mid-year junior year transfer student, Katherine’s CWS journey began at Tarlson & Associates. There she worked on a variety of detailed projects centered on organizing and digitizing tax documents. Her responsibilities included scanning physical paperwork, labeling each digital file accurately, and reorganizing the original documents alphabetically in filing cabinets.

Though the tasks required patience and precision, this role helped Katherine develop strong organizational habits and attention to detail. She learned the importance of accuracy, consistency, and maintaining an orderly system. As a result, these skills laid the groundwork for more complex responsibilities in future placements.

Beyond technical skills, this role helped Katherine build foundational workplace habits such as arriving prepared, managing her time effectively, staying on task without constant supervision, and taking pride in completing even small assignments thoroughly. By the end of her time at Tarlson & Associates, she had grown more independent, more detail-oriented, and more confident in her ability to contribute meaningfully to a professional team.

Growing Through Major Projects at Herrero Boldt Webcor (HBW)
At Katherine’s current placement at Herrero Boldt Webcor (HBW), she is actively contributing to major projects connected to HBW’s work on the UCSF hospital expansion at UCSF’s Parnassus Heights campus. One of her first large-scale projects was designing, printing, and assembling over 350 personalized name tags for office staff. Given creative freedom, Katherine designed each tag, transferred individual contact information, and handled the entire production process—from printing and laminating to cutting and organizing. This project strengthened her digital design skills and taught her how to manage a long-term assignment from start to finish.

Additionally, Katherine discovered and developed a strong interest in digital design. While she initially felt most comfortable using Google Slides, her experience expanded to platforms such as PowerPoint, spreadsheets, and Canva. At HBW, she frequently uses Canva to design posters, name tags, and other materials—growing so proficient that her supervisor now seeks her help with design questions. Digital design has become more than just a task; it is a creative outlet that allows her to express herself while contributing meaningfully to her workplace.

While Katherine gained many technical skills at HBW, the most meaningful growth came from the social aspect of her role. Although she once found socializing intimidating, her daily interactions with coworkers gradually built her confidence. From being greeted each morning by the front desk team to participating in conversations at her desk, she became more comfortable speaking with adults and contributing to discussions. Over time, both Katherine and her colleagues noticed a change. She became more assertive, more engaged, and more confident in completing her tasks.

“CWS has really strengthened my confidence in professional settings. I feel much more comfortable socializing with adults, both at work and in my everyday life. I no longer see asking for help as a weakness, but as an opportunity to learn.”