Bridging Theory and Practice

Hey! My name is Burhan Zafar, and I am a rising sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Economics. This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Al Noor Sugar Mill Limited, a company known for its involvement in sugar manufacturing, and power generation. As a student I had a deep interest in experiencing how my theoretical knowledge would be applied to the corporate setup, and this internship provide me with that perfect opportunity. 

My role as intern was to use mainly Excel to manage data, and create spreadsheets that track financial metrics. This included storing data in the excel spreadsheets, and validating it against documents like invoices and receipts. Furthermore, I had to structure the data in such a way that it is easy to analyze, which included creating tables, and filters for easier access. 

Additionally, I was tasked with developing templates for repetitive tasks, such as monthly expenses and budget preparation. These templates automated calculations using formulas and functions like ‘SUM’, ‘IF’, and ‘VLOOKUP’ , which made the data entry process much smoother and reduced the probability of errors. I became proficient in using Excel’s advanced features, such as conditional formatting and pivot tables, which allowed me to present data in a more useful way. The experience was invaluable, boosting my confidence in using software tools like Excel and equipping me with my future career endeavours. 

Although the work was a little overwhelming, and confusing at start, but with the help of my supervisor, Aslam Yaseen, and esteemed colleagues, I was able to learn the required skills, and then it was just practice that helped me get good at it day by day. Working in a good space, and being surrounded by helping co workers, made me love the job more, and it pushed me to gain more and more knowledge. This gave me a good sense of how a team works at a corporate level, and taught me a lot on how to be a good team member. 

Through this internship I've been able to see how my theoretical knowledge in computer science and economics are used in practical situations. My work at Al Noor Sugar Mill has given me hands on experience into how these concepts are applied in a corporate environment. This experience has shaped my goals for my career, and I now have a broader view of what I enjoy doing. 

For me, working as an intern at Al Noor Sugar Mill Limited has given me a lot of everything I need as a striving college student. It has given me professional experience, useful skills, and a deeper knowledge of the financial components of a large-scale manufacturing organization. I am appreciative of the early difficulties I encountered and the development they brought about.