Slice of Life: Intern Edition

Johncel "Jcel" Padilla ☁️ • my intern chronicles with Porter 👩🏻‍✈️

[neverbluewithporter]

November 22 & 29: Week 9

As they say, all good things must come to an end, and sadly, my journey with Porter has come to one. These past four months have been transformative and filled with countless memories, making this goodbye one of the hardest I’ve ever had to say.

In such a short time, I’ve grown greatly, both personally and professionally. I’ve discovered strengths within myself the resilience, adaptability, and patience that I didn’t know I had. I’ve faced challenges head-on, learning how to navigate situations I once thought were beyond me. Through it all, I’ve gained not only skills but also a deeper understanding of myself and my capabilities.

The people I’ve worked with have made this journey unforgettable. My coworkers inspired me with their dedication, teamwork, and kindness. From the camaraderie during shifts to the valuable lessons shared, they have truly left a lasting impression. And the passengers with each interaction taught me something new, whether it was about compassion, communication, or the simple power of a smile.

Porter has been more than just an internship, it’s been a second family and a place where I’ve felt supported and valued. As I move forward, I carry with me the lessons, experiences, and friendships that will undoubtedly shape my future.

While this chapter ends, it’s also the start of something new. I’m committed to continuing the journey of growth and improvement, knowing that the skills and memories I’ve gained here will remain with me always.

Cheers to embracing the future while cherishing the past. Thank you, Porter, for everything. ✈️

— This is Johncel "Jcel" Padilla, now signing off! 🦖

Ps. Advance Merry Christmas darlings! 🎄☃️

[neverbluewithporter]

November 14: Week 8

This shift, unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to take any pictures.

I cannot emphasise how mega busy day it was for me as I have worked seven hours at my part-time before heading to the airport for my placement shift. At this point, I would be really exhausted and tired but somehow I still have the energy and insanity to finish this day. I guess thanks to myself for holding up and most specially to my angel for giving me the guidance and will to keep on going.

What made this day special was seeing the Christmas tree being assembled. I found myself pausing for a moment to watch the people put it together, getting the festive spirit and the joy of the season.

And now that I think of December, I realize how close we are to the end of our placement. It’s a bittersweet feeling, sad because I know I’ll miss the incredible people I’ve grown close to and the magical atmosphere of the airport, which, to me, feels like the happiest place in the world. But I’m also happy and grateful that this placement happened. The memories, lessons, and connections I’ve made during this placement are something I’ll cherish forever. This journey has been one I’ll hold close to my heart long after it’s over. 🤍

[neverbluewithporter]

November 7, 8 & 10: Week 7

This week, I had my first morning shift, and it was incredibly busy from the start. Dishneet was my lead CSR for the day, and she assigned me as a line agent. I then start to approach passengers one by one, ask about their destinations, and see if they needed assistance with things like wheelchairs, strollers, car seats, oversized baggage, or traveling with animals. I directed them to the line since I couldn’t assist them directly at the kiosk.

I also want to give a big shoutout to Zain, a CSR, for being such a great help throughout. He stepped in during situations, like resolving issues with passengers whose passport information didn’t match their details in the system due to name spelling errors, or assisting those who received their boarding passes but didn’t get their bag tags because the machine failed to print them. He was also there to help passengers who just needed one last thing to be on their way.

Once most of the U.S. flights had departed and the lines thinned out, I shifted to assisting passengers at the kiosks. I switch between helping at the kiosks and returning to the line as needed. Morning shifts truly fly by, people come and go so quickly that before you know it, it’s already break time! 😁

Lastly, I want to congratulate my friend Aarian on landing the job as CSR! I couldn’t be prouder now two of my friends, Aarian and Leo, are part of the Porter team now. Yay! 💙

[neverbluewithporter]

October 31: Week 6

My last shift with my Thursday buddy, Alex, was bittersweet. I’m incredibly proud of her for landing the job, she truly deserves it! Alex is such a kind, hospitable, and wonderful person, and I know she’ll thrive as a CSR. I wish her nothing but the absolute best!

For our final shift together, Alex agreed to stay an extra 30 minutes so I could rack up a few more hours. As usual, we went on our responsibilities as line and kiosk agents, switching from time to time to keep us occupied.

It was a relatively quiet evening, with the typical questions from passengers like, “Where is…?” Since it wasn’t very busy, I even assisted non-Porter passengers at the kiosks. Whether they needed help with the machines or directions to their airline’s check-in area, I was happy to lend a hand and keep myself working.

While nothing particularly exciting happened, spending this shift with Alex made it special. I’ll truly miss working with her!

[neverbluewithporter]

October 17 & 18: Week 5

I’ve always wanted to create more video content for this blog to give everyone, whether they’re about to start their placement or just curious, a better understanding of what the experience is like. I hope it can inspire and excite them as they begin their own journey. I'll try to keep up and upload more short videos on the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned! Hihi.

Btw, this week marks my last before taking a break from placement. It’s not a goodbye, just a short pause from school for the week. I’ll be back on the 31st–Halloween! Boohoo!

[neverbluewithporter]

October 10 & 11: Week 4

A couple I helped with their luggage at the conveyor thanked me, saying, “Thank you for helping us out. You are so accommodating. You must really love your job.” It's one of the few compliments I got that struck me and made me feel happy, the last sentence they made, “you must really love your job,” felt like a recognition that I’m doing a good job with my work even as an intern. It was also a fun week because I ran into some friends from Air Transat, who are also doing their placements. They stopped by at Porter, and we had a great time catching up, sharing how our internships were going, and comparing experiences so far.

[neverbluewithporter]

October 3 & 4: Week 3

Reflecting on this week, I’ve realized how fortunate I am to be surrounded by such an incredible group of people. Some coworkers have even become true friends, and it’s this bond that makes our every shift not just bearable but genuinely enjoyable and memorable. Beyond just mastering work operations, it’s clear that building a solid foundation of friendship and connection with colleagues is important as it creates a smoother workflow, fosters teamwork, and ultimately makes every task more achievable when we’re all in it together. Here’s to continuing this journey side-by-side, making memories, and growing together as a team.

[neverbluewithporter]

September 26 & 27: Week 2

Every shift still gives me butterflies, but I think that just means I genuinely love what I’m doing. This week has been another opportunity to learn and refine my skills. While I’m still mastering all the details about flights especially when it comes to interline connections, I’m also focusing on building connections with both coworkers and passengers. It’s a rewarding balance of growing professionally and creating lasting friendships along the way.

[neverbluewithporter]

September 19 & 20: Week 1

I'm thrilled to share my first week of experience as a CSR intern with Porter. My shifts were scheduled for the evening, from 1730 to 2230.

As I arrived at the airport and my shift began, I was greeted by Vraj, one of the lead CSRs that time, who showed me the ropes in general. He walked me through the basics of the kiosk, explaining everything from the location of neighboring airlines to directing passengers heading to domestic and US-bound flights. Although it was a lot to take in, I was determined to soak up as much information as possible. And, as expected, it wasn't all smooth sailing at first. I made a few mistakes, but that's all part of the learning process, right?

One thing I noticed about the evening shifts is that they are generally less busy and more calm compared to the morning shifts. This allowed me to have some great conversations with my fellow CSRs and co-interns, asking them about their experiences, seeking advice, and learning from their journeys in the industry. I have to say, the people I’ve met so far are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and supportive.

Throughout the week, I found myself looking forward to each shift, eager to apply what I'd learned and continue to improve my skills. Every shift have been a great way to build my confidence in socializing and interacting with passengers, and I feel like I'm making progress with each passing day.

[neverbluewithporter]

September 11, 2024: Orientation Day

This day marked the start of my internship journey with Porter, and I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead. As I arrived, I took a moment to observe the environment, getting a feel for what life would be like working in such dynamic space.

One of the highlights was meeting my fellow co-interns, people I clicked with almost instantly and bonded quickly. Kayanna, one of the supervisors, led the orientation. She guided us through Porter’s communication processes, teaching us the correct way to contact the team, who to reach out to, and how to handle emails. She also covered practical things like shift trading, dropping shifts, and the steps to take in case of personal emergencies.

After the meeting, Kayanna took individual photos for our ID badges, and we also had a group photo taken with all the Porter interns. Ms. Judy joined us for a larger group picture, which was such a special moment to capture.

Looking back, the day was not only joyful but also packed with knowledge-worthy insights that left me feeling more prepared than ever. I truly believe this experience will be unforgettable, and I’m hopeful that Porter will soon feel like my second family. Here’s to the beginning of something amazing!