Not long ago, I used to prepare myself for a summer of sun, relaxation and beach days as May approached. The end of the year in high school signified freedom and a sigh of relief from finals. “Working” in the summer often entailed scooping ice cream, cashiering or catching a tan as a lifeguard. Most teenagers never dove into the corporate workforce during their two months of summer bliss.

As I now sit in my corporate cubicle, I wonder why I wanted to grow up so fast. I can’t help but miss past summers that were seemingly free of real responsibility. I am looking forward to my lunch break at noon; delighted at the notion that my boss will take me out to a fancy lunch with all the other interns. My viewpoint has certainly changed, as I stare outside my window watching the summer sun heat the leather seats of my parked car. No beach, no sun and no sand for me. At least I have a view of the Boston Harbor across the street. I am jealous of the sailboats that are completely free of worry and responsibility, yet I doubt they are making a solid $12.00 an hour. That is sadly before taxes. Wow, I am not sure if I like the real world!

Despite my nostalgia, I am honestly thrilled to be sitting in my cubicle right now. The fact that I have my own cubicle is impressive in itself, and kudos to all who snagged real offices. I bet your dad knows the CEO. Regardless of how we all got to our internships, and whether or not they specifically spotlight the skills we are developing in our majors, it is an impressive accomplishment to have an internship position while attending college.

College is extremely competitive and internships have become as valuable as certain classes. Whether it’s your dream internship, a stepping stone, or a coffee running job for all the important people that occasionally glance at you in the office, it will most likely be spun on your resume to sound even more prestigious! It is important to recognize that you are taking the first steps in the right direction. We all start at the bottom and keep in mind that some of us start lower even than others.

As DJ Khaled would emphasize, internships are the key to success. My friends and I have referred to our sophomore summer of college as “adulting” or the beginning of our journey into the real world. Scary, but exciting, this is a realization that I have now completed half of my college career. Each semester propels me forward into becoming an adult. Wearing a suit and tie; or your mother’s blouse; buying your own coffee as well as your boss’s; earning a cubicle; or checking your bank account balance with a newfound sense of joy due to the amazement of direct deposit checking; we are all adulting whether we realize it or not!

Adulting comes with your twenties as you discover your passions, learn to follow your dreams and create a future for yourself. You start to utilize your connections, eventually land your first internship and begin to enjoy making those hourly office coffee runs, realizing that one day you will no longer be an intern. One day you will look back fondly at the days of tedious internships and the joy of having your own cubicle. You will recall your first steps in the process of adulting. Always keep in mind your goal along the way: one day trade you will be able to trade in that cubicle for your own chief executive office!

Dylan O'Brien from The Internship

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