"Get an internship! Have you applied for any internships yet? Are you planning on getting an internship? Internships? Intern????"
It can be daunting as a senior in college. Professors and employers encourage college students to apply for internships to gain experience in a professional workplace and network to increase the likelihood of getting hired post-graduation. My number one priority this year was to finally start applying and get serious about putting my name out there to meet as many professionals as I could. I scrolled through LinkedIn, Handshake and Indeed all the time to apply for as many listings that I felt I fit into.
What was most important to me is not just finding a job but being involved with something that is fulfilling to me personally and professionally. I purposely chose not to apply to just anything that would accept me because I knew I wouldn't gain anything from something that didn't interest me.
I think the biggest problem with pushing internships is that we're told to get any experience that we can, but internships don't have to just be busy work that no one else wants to do. They're not always about getting coffee for the office or being treated poorly. The intern stereotype really worried me because I wanted to learn and grow with an opportunity that not everyone has. I truly believe that everyone has to start at the bottom, but if you're not working for something that you love then you're not going to get as much out of it no matter what the job title is.
I found the perfect opportunity for myself with Fleet Farming. When I went to my first day I was nervous, but upon walking in I was welcomed with hugs from the staff that I was meeting for the first time. The environment was warm and inviting. I knew that I found the right place.
Blog writing for an organization was not just boring busy work where I was stuck in an office nook. My directors Lee and Caroline were involved with my team and taught us the best ways to write for an audience and with a mission. Their interest, motivation, and action showed that they cared, and it made me care just as much. I applied wanting to learn more and am now leaving with knowledge and experience I wouldn't trade for anything.
I made wonderful friends that I can always connect with and have found new role models, as well as mentors from the people that run the organization. I gained confidence in my writing and as a millennial entering the workforce. It made me excited to continue to grow and meet more people with values that aligned with my own. When I told friends that I got into the internship with Fleet, I got responses like "farming? Aren't you studying English?" Which makes sense at first glance.
We learned about the impacts of farming and how important it was to Fleet Farming to educate people about sustainability. They gave us the knowledge to write for their mission. When my first blog went up it was something to be proud of and I couldn't wait to educate my friends and family with something I produced for an organization that I came to love. I didn't just receive college credit, I made lasting friendships and found confidence.
