I don’t know what it’s like to not have a full-time job with benefits, expenses and everything in between.
When I was in high school, it was all about studying and taking up extra-curriculars so I could get a scholarship or else I couldn’t go to college.
Once I graduated high school, it was all about getting the experience and paying bills because I just didn’t know how to stop. I wanted to keep going forward but I never thought about doing an internship.
It seemed like a waste of time. I needed to get my degree, get the experience and keep moving.
As I got older, the term ‘intern’ became a distant thing for me, especially once I started working full-time. I needed the benefits and the job security. I had to make car payments, insurance payments, tuition payments and of course, credit card bills.
Once I moved out on my own, that was it. There was no way I was going back so unless I won the lottery, there was absolutely no way I could do an internship.
Then I started editing resumes, and started talking to people who are younger than me who are doing internships. A weird envy came over me. It sounded like an amazing experience, a lot of fun and a great learning opportunity. I was over the classroom and became all about hands-on learning.
When I was let go of my job, I still couldn’t think about internships. I needed to get another full-time job and pay the bills. Yet I would come across internship listings and something in me would stir.
Finally, I changed my game plan. After talking with the Boy (Since we pay rent together), and weighing my options, I decided I would do an internship and get a part-time job, gain more freelance clients and make this work.
So I came across a listing that sounded too good to be true. “This is too good to be true,” I told him.
“Go for it. You have nothing to lose.”
So I did. I wrote up a kick-ass cover letter and sent it on, not expecting to hear anything. Within a couple hours, I got a phone call.
During that phone call, I was told that I was at the top of her list, and out of 300 applicants, I really stood out. Tuesday, I went into meet with her to find out that she had a family emergency so I met with her assistant. Yesterday, I got an email saying she wanted me to come in to meet the other intern and get basic training.
Tomorrow?
I might be going over to her house so I can ride in the limo with her to CNN so we can chat before the taping.
That is just the tip of the iceberg.
Unpaid internship with amazing experience? Yes please.
So I am now an intern.
No, I won’t be wearing suits and wearing security badges like the Hill interns but that’s not what I was looking for anyway. I know what I want to be doing and I know that this will be the best 3 months of my life.
I also know that I couldn’t have done it without the support of my amazing boyfriend and my amazing friends.
So let the adventure begin!
What was your best internship experience?
Your worst?
If you could be an intern right now, where would you want to work and why?
*****
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