Just a few months ago, the elite few of the population landed their perfect summer internship. One small step for a college student, one giant leap for college-student-kind. They immediately took to Pinterest, searching the term "business professional clothes" before asking their parents for money to purchase them (who knew one blazer would cost 65 dollars on sale?). Some posted that humble-brag status on Facebook, inevitably beginning with "I am so excited to announce that I will be interning at," while others searched for a non-sketchy apartment in the city that wouldn't cost more than what they would make all summer.
Even after all of this preparation, the butterflies in their stomachs had no chill on the morning of their first day. Because even though the image that comes to most people's minds when they hear the term "intern" is a too-eager teenager that's sole purpose is to watch and learn (and deliver lattes), I think that there's something to be said about this opportunity. It walks on both sides of the fine line between being an adult with real world responsibilities and being a fallible kid who has room to make mistakes, as long as they learn from them.
That's why I asked a few interns from around the country what they have actually been doing all summer. It seems like "learning to adult" comes with some challenges as well as some well-deserved five o'clock happy hours celebrated with their new intern friends (as a networking opportunity, of course.) Here's what they said:
"An internship depends heavily on your state of mind, if you visualize yourself as a temporary coffee monkey you'll fail. You have to see yourself as a contributor, because that word just means more and makes more sense to act upon. I've had the opportunity to spell "college" wrong in my first email on my first day of the job, but that mistake also long term gave me the opportunity to create a framework for the developer community of cutting edge technology. Mistakes are what internships are for, you're putting the time in to look less stupid in the future, not now."
-Julio, intern in Miami, Florida
"There will always be challenges, especially when interning with a younger company. I've realized that offering a solution to problems you encounter, instead of a complaint, will get you much further, as well as taken more seriously. Remember that rejection isn't a reflection of your effort when working in sales. Getting a few "no's" are inevitable, and they just make you work harder to hear a "yes."
-Madison, intern in Temple, Texas
"You can't be scared to network with executives and introduce yourself to everyone. They did hire you for a reason. I've learned that to get the most out of that opportunity, you have to ask questions. People are eager to give advice and help you succeed as long as you are willing to ask."
-Jordan, intern in Chicago, Illinois
"I’ve realized that stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow, and that the most important lessons are taught outside of the classroom. Advertising is a competitive and fast-paced industry, and it is important to think creatively and approach every situation with an open mind. The best part about not having all of the answers is that the work is never boring. Having the opportunity to work alongside outstanding professionals with real clients has provided me with a summer experience that was truly learning through doing, not watching."
-Shelby, intern in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
"I definitely feel like I am getting real world experience through my internship. I get to attend meetings and am assigned projects that are teaching me a lot about the different facets of the industry I want to work in one day. I love being in a city where the arts are such a huge part of the cultural landscape."
-Miranda, intern in New York City
