This summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern for a global clothing brand. I spent my days surrounded by amazing graphic designers, businessmen, designers, salesmen, marketers, and best of all some really stylish and well-made clothing. This internship was easily one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I learned more than I could have ever hoped, but it was also 40 hours a week, better known as full-time.

Most internships it seems like are only a few days a week, or more part-time, and that’s actually what I thought mine was going to be too. Reflecting back on it now, I am so happy that it wasn’t. By working full-time, I really got a sense of what “real life” is. I was able to fully immerse myself in the working world, and by doing so I had a lot of realizations about my future, jobs, and the working world in general.

Here are just a few things that I learned along the way.

If you are working full-time and hate your job, you are going to be miserable.

Seems almost dumb to say that, because it is so obvious that that would be the case, but so many people work in jobs that they don’t enjoy. Eight hours a day will go by incredibly slow if you hate your job, and there really is no way around that. I was lucky enough to enjoy my time spent in the office, but even still there were days where I felt like eight hours was 80 hours. I can’t imagine having to do something that I despised for 40 hours a week. Granted, not everyone immediately gets their dream job, but it just goes to show you that you should never stop striving for that dream job.

Your co-workers make all the difference.

Even if a job may not be your dream job, having amazing co-workers can help make the day so much better. You don’t have to like everyone, or even necessarily get along with everyone, but having those few really close people in the office helps so much. Co-workers are great when you want someone to get lunch with, help with a last minute project, or even just get some life advice from. These people are really able to understand the stress you may be under, and can help with that in a way outside friends cannot. Work friends really are the best friends.

Making connections is key.

Again, another pretty obvious statement, but so incredibly true. You may not be at your dream job, but chances are someone in your office, most likely in a higher up position knows someone that works at your dream job. You know, that whole six degrees of separation thing isn’t totally bogus. There is so much potential to meet so many different people through work, and if you don’t take advantage of that it is so easy to see great things pass you by. Yes, it’s difficult to do this, but putting yourself out there can be one of the greatest things you do in your lifetime.

Granted, I only worked full time for eight weeks, but I now have a new perspective on both the working field and myself. I was able to learn more about the job field and was really able to dive deeper within myself to really figure out what I liked and disliked in an office setting, and it has led me further in the direction I hope to go in after college.