BECOME AN INTERN? BUT I’M JUST A FRESHMAN

Deciding to become an intern during my first long summer vacation in college was really hard. I had planned to read, watch television and sleep all summer. I hadn’t even thought about working on a perfect summer body because I had planned to read my summer away. The first few weeks weren’t fun. I loved the job but I was still stuck in the “I’m just a first year student” thought. As the days went by, I realised it gave me something to look forward to each day and also gave me a sense of purpose. I did jobs I didn’t even know existed. While interning, I realised a few things.

•  YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECOME AN INTERN IN A COMPANY RELATED TO THE COURSE YOU ARE MAJORING IN: Majoring in public relations, I was taken aback when I learnt that the company I was going to work for was an HR company. I was going to be the social media and content manager: something I knew almost nothing about. Being a reader and a curious person, I went online to get basic tips about content management and it made my work easier and as bonus I can add content management to my portfolio.
• IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY: At a PR seminar I attended on campus, one of the speakers made a remarkable statement and I quote “Your network is your net worth.” With internship,you enlarge your sphere of contact and have an addition to your list of references. I learnt a lot on the job and kept my mind working throughout the summer vacation and this is more valuable than money because I’ll always know it. Traditionally as an intern, you aren’t supposed to be paid. This is because you’re given an opportunity to learn and build your career.
• WORK EXPERIENCE: This is probably a cliché to most people but it’s true. Dragging myself out of bed was something I learnt to do while interning. I wasn’t always ecstatic about going to work but finally finishing my internship gave me a can do mentality and changed my approach towards goals I set. Working with my colleagues,sending official emails and using text editors I wasn't familiar with were skills I developed as a novice. Being the only intern, lots of attention was given to me with regards to developing skills and I couldn't ask for a better experience.
• ENRICHING YOUR PORTFOLIO: The importance of adding more experiences and skills to your portfolio cannot be overemphasised as it gives employers more reason to choose you over other applicants. You don’t just partake in an internship program just to let time pass. It’s for a purpose and recruiters will mostly choose someone with work experience than one without.

In all, my internship period was the most enlightening experience I’ve ever had. It was definitely worth it. It kept my mind active and sharp. I have better communication and work ethics. I have experience in social media and content management which I never thought was necessary. During your next long vacation, volunteer or become an intern. It’s a good investment.