The intangible concept of a summer internship is revered in modern society and parents and their children are convinced of the value gained from chasing down various summer career opportunities all over the world. While the content of an internship can range from getting coffee and making copies to working 14-hour days, most internships seem to follow a similar trajectory:
1. Surviving awkward first-day shenanigans.
What does business casual even mean? "Something between flip flops and suits?" A little more guidance, please. If they say to get there at 9, does that actually mean 9, or 8:30? What if I get lost on the way to the office?
2. Meeting other interns.
Are we going to be friends? Our only mutual friend on Facebook is some girl I barely knew in high school. Is that a bad sign? I wonder how they know each other. Do I introduce myself as I walk by or is that overly aggressive?
3. Getting your first project.
The moment of truth: Will I befriend the copy machine this summer, or add significant value to this organization?
4. Drinking way too much coffee.
I see on my calendar I am "getting coffee" with four people today. Uh-oh. Hellooo, caffeine.
5. Settling into a routine.
Get off the elevator. Wave hello to the guy who sits in the desk to the right as you walk in. Ask the intern who sits next to you how their weekend was. Check in with your boss. Open your laptop with iMessage open in such a way that you can minimize it whenever someone walks by. Expertly time your trips to the water cooler to allow for maximum socialization.
6. Befriending other interns.
Happy hour, karaoke, bars, dinners...let's do this.
7. Becoming a little too comfortable.
OK, maybe that lunch break was a little long.
8. Hitting a wall.
Why am I tired from sitting for eight straight hours every day?
9. Catching a second wind and making serious progress on your project.
Nothing like a sense of healthy paranoia to help you realize it's time to crank this out.
10. With only a couple of weeks left, you start realizing you will miss the work, the people and the city.
Not to mention the adorable office dog who snorts whenever he trots by (ily Jake).
11. Saying goodbyes.
And, just as fast as it all started, the interns depart back to their respective hometowns and universities, while the full-time employees continue about their lives just as they did before.
12. Getting excited that you won't have anything to do for a little while.
Who doesn't love summer with no commitments?
13. Slowly realizing that you actually like having something to do, and having no idea how to spend your time until school starts.
But, let's be honest, you'll find a new Netflix show to binge-watch, a good book to sit down with or a beautiful beach to frequent, and you'll be back at school before you know it.
