High school interns are in and of themselves a unique breed. A high school internship is the middle school version of the work force -- you’re not completely useless and incompetent like an elementary school student, but then again you really are not trained or certified to do anything of as large an influence as a college or graduated student can. High school interns are stuck, well, we're stuck in the middle.

However, despite the awkwardness of being in this middle, fork in the road-esque stage of working life, I am happy to say I had the opportunity to identify as one of these high school interns. Some high schools require or provide second semester seniors with an option to go off on a senior project. Here, seniors seize the opportunity to travel, do service for the community or in the case of many, secure their first internship for a short one-month stint of career exploration.

Since my school is of the ilk that sends students on the path of freedom in the end of our senior springs, I was lucky enough to spend my month as intern at the Lilly Pulitzer Headquarters. As I moved around through the design and business departments of the company, I came across these five stages and emotions I am sure any former or current high school intern can relate to and get a laugh out of:

Getting there on your first day of work and being so eager to help, but also not wanting to overstep your boundaries by asking for tasks.

Not knowing what to do for lunch the first week because everyone is age 25 or older, has a disposable income and knows all of the local good lunch spots.

Openly accepting a task you have no idea how to do.

Figuring out how to finally do that task yourself, or even building relations with co-workers as they help you out (seeing as how most of them have been in your shoes once or twice before).

Coming to the comforting realization that you learned something, were maybe even good at it, and could someday do this whole “work” thing all by yourself.

While high school seniors may not always be the most trained or qualified, securing a first internship to "get your feet wet," as my boss at Lilly always said, is an opportunity to be thankful for.