It's summer break!
The time where classes have become irrelevant (well, for most of us) and all we want to do is sit back, do nothing, and catch up on well needed hours of sleep.
Summer, as we have come to know throughout the years, is the non-academic zone of our schedules. Reading textbooks to search for definitions is as far out an idea as waking up at 7 a.m. for...anything! But, a new age has arisen: the age of the internship.
It's the obligatory college student thing. Adults ALWAYS ask, "What are your summer plans?" And you know you feel guilty if you say, "nothing."
Quite honestly, a valuable internship is almost as important as the degree you're receiving. And the idea is, if you haven't tried getting one, you might want to consider getting on that.
An internship provides the real world background to the content you're learning in the classroom. By putting yourself in an unpaid (but I would hope for you that it is paid) internship, you are giving yourself a huge advantage when you go to apply for your first job.
As my International Relations professor puts it:
"Experience is more valuable than a minor you could pick up, or that extra class offered at the perfect time. It's great you know how to define a concept, but if you can't actually do it in the field, your degree becomes useless."
Sure, giving up free time during the summer isn't ideal, but if you ask most employers, a student who knows how to deal with people (especially coworkers) and thrive in a work environment is bound to get hired over someone who just sits in a library, or at home over summer all day.
With that, we understand just how important these internships are. So, what is there to learn?
It's fair to say that in 10 to 20 years, you would hope that your career will be in full swing. We pretty much fear what the future will hold for us, and one of the biggest questions is this: is what I'm doing right now putting me on the right track?
While I can't answer that for you, surely in 10 to 20 years you can find yourself saying these following things to your college intern aged self:
1. An internship isn't about being paid or wasting time.
If you can get paid, great. But in the end, it doesn't matter if you were upset you only got paid $8 an hour or would rather be out with friends. You gave yourself an opportunity to learn more, and when you get your dream job because of the wisdom you're learning, you'll be happy you did it.
2. 9 to 5. Get used to it.
Right now, most of us are pretty used to having a sliced up schedule. Sure, we are busy, but it's a different type of busy. Class at 9:30 a.m., nap, lunch at 12:15 p.m. (if I even want to eat), study, friends, more napping, band practice, one more nap, then going to the library or just seeing more friends. Unfortunately, this isn't the case when you work. Typically, you have a pretty defined schedule, with the dreaded 9 to 5 being the usual, and that won't really go away for a while. Get ready.
3. Please. Mess Up.
It's OK to not know where to park, or how traffic works on a commute on your first day. Spilling your lunch on your new work outfit, or not knowing Friday's are casual is pretty cool as well! Better yet, how about doing a project the completely wrong way?.. If you mess up, you're doing it right. Figure out what it's like to fail before you do it on the big stage.
4. Keep a journal.
No, this isn't a diary where you can spill our heart out. This is a way for you to look back and see if you're a Dwight Schrute or Jim Halpert. A journal will help with remembering the small details of what you learned and how they come together to make the big picture. The key is to take any lesson you can from even the smallest of opportunities. That will substitute a lack of pay. Pro-tip: save paper, time and ink by just typing it up on your laptop.
5. Don't worry about other people.
Focus on what you're doing and what your goals are. Don't worry about that other snobby intern (aka the Dwight Schrute). Just focus on yourself. If you get distracted, you will only frustrate yourself and ruin the experience that is supposed to build you.
6. Practical experience gets you the job. Theory, as you learn in class, gets you a promotion.
Trust me, knowing what the definitions and theories are in your field WILL pay off. Experience will get you your first job, and your outstanding education will give you the wisdom to get promoted. The best way to making career choices easier is by getting experience.
If you pick up an internship now, you are one step closer to getting hired in your dream career. So go out there, learn something productive, and just watch it pay off in the long run! (And get paid, too.)
You got this.
