Okay, breathe. I know you probably just clicked over here from your Excel document* of internship application deadlines, but try to get your mind off of it for a second. Internships are an important part of college, and it’s only natural for you to be having these feelings of manic job hunteree. I know because I’ve been there…still am there.
Hold in the scoff, though, because I’m about to drop some controversial knowledge: there are other important things in life. Yes, other than finding an internship. Shh. Before you enter that reactive modern college student mode that instinctively spouts facts about the crippling job market and the likelihood of finding work after graduation, take a minute and scroll through these five other things you should be worried about that are just as, if not more so, important as landing that prime internship. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even help you get one.
1. School
Don't roll your eyes, this is legit. I know I've let classes slide for a hot sec while I've been applying to internships. I find myself sitting down to do homework but scrolling through Handshake instead. School is important (and probably a key reason why you'll end up at a high-end internship). Give school attention. Don't be like me.
2. Exercise
I know lots of us don't have time for this one on the reg, let alone during recruitment season, but it doesn't take that long to run on a treadmill for twenty minutes. Actually, it takes about twenty minutes. Just imagine... you're in the gym in your hot workout outfit, and you put in headphones, and you just do your thing for three miles. You don't think about work, or class, or internships. You just do you and you leave with a more toned bottom half. Sounds nice, doesn't it?
3. Food
This sounds like a given, but trust me when I say that you'd be surprised how many busy and stressed people forget to eat. I used to look at people like that and sincerely wonder how they could just not eat--I've figured it out. You have work at 9:00, then a meeting at 10:00, then another meeting at 11:00, then class at 12:00 until 3:00, and then suddenly your stomach acid is eating itself. Do yourself a favor: set a reminder and eat food.4. Relationships
And no, I don't mean networking. Friends and family don't exist in your LinkedIn connections, contrary to popular belief. Put the phone down and go get some number three with your roommate. Call up mom and dad and thank them for loving you whether you get that internship or not. Just water your relationships, please. You'll want them to grow with you.
5. Mental Health
I'm so serious. This can be a crazy, stressful, overwhelming time in all of our lives as we try to get that education, stay healthy, and be social. There are many, many helplines with people on the other side to listen. There are professors and advisors who have the experience you're looking for and who get paid to help you. There are thousands of other college students who are experiencing the same things you are. Talk to one of us. Or don't, if you prefer meditation. Either way, take care of yourself, kid.
(For my Emory peeps, here's a link to the student helpline site: http://bit.ly/2xxWgyj)
I hope these small reminders helped you breathe a little easier, knowing that the course of your life is not entirely dependent upon what you do this coming summer. Okay, you can go back to your Excel sheet now.
*Please note that this is not a necessary part of the internship hunt, and I really hope that I did not just impart copious amounts of stress onto your person because you realized you don’t have one.