Junior front-end engineer Skottey Forden penned a heartfelt letter to Ai that he wanted to publish publicly. Happy holidays, and happy anniversary, Skottey:
One year ago today I sat down in my desk chair for the first time. Uncertain of what to expect of my first real-world industry job, especially as a lowly intern, it's easy for me to express the mix of nerves and excitement I was enduring. To look back on that day seems almost silly considering how much Ai has grown on me. It has become my life and my reason to wake up in the morning, and in one year's time I now feel like my employers and co-workers are more like family to me than merely people I work with.
Throughout my internship and from the start of my full-time employment, this company has given me endless opportunities to flourish and grow for myself and my abilities in the facets of work that we do here. I learned a great deal in my years of higher education but the skill sets that I have obtained through my time at Ai have no comparison. Every day that I spend in our office I am surrounded by the most inspiring and intelligent people who collectively work together to create the most beautiful and functional interactive works I have seen and am proud to play a role in.
To work at Ai, one must obviously have the talents necessary to do your part in building a quality product for our clients. We must know how to execute the tasks assigned each day, how to manage time, and how to treat your work as if it is your baby.
But a spirited attitude is almost an unspoken prerequisite to be a part of our team. Ai prides itself not only with its work but the cheerful and diligent demeanor of all those who call Ai "home." The Ai family is constantly motivated to learn and build on capabilities to produce high-level and technology-driven design and interactive works with the end-user in mind. To achieve this sought-after quality of work, sharing a positive attitude is almost a necessity. You will not find a single person through the Ai office doors who does not share a claim to this perspective.
With one year past there is a clear and bright future ahead for myself and Ai as a whole. With a new year just around the corner the boundaries seem endless in all that we as a team are capable of. Tonight our collaborative team of programmers, coders, designers, project managers, strategists, quality assurance specialists, system administrators, information architects, interns, and of course the head honchos all embark on our year-end holiday party. I could easily say, "Hey guys, thanks for throwing me an anniversary party, that's terrific!"
On the contrary, my humility is saying that our party is just that--a celebration and a time to reflect on the spectacular work that we have accomplished. To the Ai family: I thank you all for taking me under your wing and giving me a place to grow and call home. I look forward to stepping into a new year with all of you and I can't wait to see what is in store for us.
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