08/25/2026
Most interns expect to shadow. Our interns are allowed the opportunity to lead…
Construction Intern, Nathan Diephouse, gives a glimpse into his summer and reflects on a few things he’s taking with him from his experience at First Companies.
“What stands out most from my time at First Companies is being handed a project to manage myself. Getting that kind of trust as an intern wasn't something I expected, and it changed how I approached the whole job. I wasn't shadowing anyone. I was the one running the meetings, writing the RFIs, tracking the submittals, and answering questions from owners and subcontractors. That ownership gave me the chance to learn quickly, from looking for the next step instead of asking what to do next, to staying organized across six projects at once, to picking up the phone even when I wasn't certain I had the answer. I'm proud of the moments where the details mattered, like catching an installation issue before it went in, finding a cheaper alternative on a material we had already spec'd, and building a procurement log the team can keep using after I'm gone. What surprised me most is how much of this job is relationships rather than tasks, with the trades, with the internal team, and with owners, and how willing everyone at First Companies was to teach me that side of it and not just the everyday work. I'm leaving First Companies with a lot more confidence, a real sense of what good project management looks like, and the reminder that growth happens when you say yes to unfamiliar responsibilities.”
We're proud of all that Nathan accomplished during his time with us and thankful he chose to spend part of his journey here. Watching interns grow into confident professionals is such a rewarding part of summers like this.
