Having an internship is always a wonderful option because it helps you learn more about your potential career path and hone your skills as a young professional. The idea of an internship, however, can be intimidating. No intern could possibly know exactly what will be asked of them, which makes it even more nerve-wracking. What if they ask me to perform a task and I have no idea how? What if I make a mistake? I personally was extremely nervous when I began my internship. Looking back now, I believe it was primarily fear of the unknown. If you’re interning for the first time, remember you’re there for the experience. It’s about learning, and that process isn’t always easy or instant. There are a lot of important things to know that can certainly help make the transition smoother.

If they’re hiring interns... they want interns. These companies and organizations are hiring you because they want help and they want you to learn from their staff.

I had the pleasure of interning in a public relations office last summer with co-workers that were helpful and offered me guidance. My mentors gave me balance by offering me support while also letting me grow and develop my own ideas. I am aware that not every internship can be as accommodating as my experience, so here are a few things to keep in mind for any internship.

1. Be respectful but be yourself. The first week of my internship I was so nervous -- I was very shy, which doesn't match my extrovert personality at all.

2. Be invested. If you’re taking an internship, invest your time. You should arrive early or on time, and be present while you’re there. Don’t be on your phone a lot; it makes it seem as though you aren’t focused and don't have the desire to be there.

3. When you run out of the tasks you’ve been given, don’t be shy about asking for more.

4. Learn little tricks from your mentors that make life a little simpler.

5. Ask your mentors about their path in that specific field because they may have taken a different route to get there, which could be of interest to you.

6. Learn everything you can about the organization you are interning for because you never know when you will be asked about it, and it can be helpful when explaining your internship to future employers.

7. Get to know your co-workers, even if it’s just grabbing coffee together; you’ll learn more about them and work better as a team.

8. Go to happy hour and have fun, but remember you have to go back to the office the next day, so don’t get too wild, because those will still be your colleagues in the morning.

9. Learn about the city you’re interning in. Whether you’ve lived there your whole life or no time at all, there are always new discoveries and spots to be found. This can help you adapt to a new area, especially if you’re navigating the subway or metro.

10. Make connections with your fellow interns; chances are they’re new too.

11. Build relationships with other interns, colleagues, and mentors. As I grew closer with the mentors in my office, little discussions about things like "Game of Thrones" or current events were always fun and definitely relaxed the environment.

12. Network with everyone, you never know which path you’ll take, and it’s important to build strong connections.

13. Maintain your relationships with everyone, especially when you leave.

14. Don’t be afraid to give input or ideas at meetings; they show that you’re taking initiative and thinking outside the box.

15. Administrative tasks aren’t always so simple, but the more time you spend doing them, the easier it will become.

16. Just because you’re interning for a specific office doesn’t mean you can’t lend a hand in other departments. It will be appreciated.

17. Attend the workshops that are held. I am by no means a photographer, but I attended a fun workshop about photography and learned a few tricks that I still use today.

18. Take notes when your mentor teaches you how to use an application or program that is foreign to you. The next morning, when you haven’t quite had enough coffee, those notes will come in handy, trust me.

One of the most precious things I took away from my internship was simply listening to all my experienced co-workers. It is important to listen and learn from them because they have experience in your potential field. Do you your best to absorb their advice. After spending two months interning, I began to appreciate the little things: the security guards that learned my name and always said good morning, or talking about football with Mike the custodian. Grabbing afternoon coffee with my mentors was always enjoyable and definitely made me feel like I was a part of the team. If you have the opportunity to intern, do it. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience and help give you guidance for the future.