CREDIT: QUARTERLIFECONVERSATIONS
Unpaid, but worth it.

It's that nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach, the knot that just will not go away, and you have the mixed feelings of dread and anticipation building up inside. Why are you nervous? It is not even a “real” job, but although it lacks the salary, you find yourself just as wound-up about starting.

An internship is a big change and a window into the next chapter after school. At my own internship, I have been affectionately dubbed “Hope the Intern.” Luckily for me, I have found my internship hosts extremely open, friendly and all very easy to approach and interact with.

There is an unusual feeling of being in such a fast-paced environment in which everyone is busy, and only being able to help with certain tasks. Yet that is the purpose of an internship: to be exposed to an industry or work environment that interests you but does not necessarily require that you are the most versed in the trade. You are there to gain knowledge and to build upon your existing skills.

“The biggest benefit of an internship is definitely getting real-world experience. I like knowing that when I go to look for full-time work, I will have some sort of experience under my belt,” expressed Corporate Communication and Public Relations student Amanda Bartlett. It can be hard to tap into the job market or land an opportunity when feeling intimidated by your status as a new graduate.

For me, the experience is beneficial and valuable in gaining in-the-field experience, allowing me the opportunity to test out the waters to help guide me to a more specific area of preference. Each experience is a building block, and even if I do not end up in that exact field, it is still possible to build on current skills and apply the knowledge learned to each new challenge in the future.

You will be faced with challenges of all sorts, but take each one in stride taking into consideration that you are an intern and it is completely acceptable to ask for clarification. You will realize various aspects that prove to be the real learning curves — “The greatest challenge, I think, is not being paid for it,” stated Bartlett. It really is a balancing act between the world of a student and that of a working young professional.

If you get the chance to do an internship and the timing is right, take it. Embrace the challenge and meet the unknown head-on! You never know where each step will take you and it is often that first step that is the hardest. Yet if you need that little bit of practical exposure, an internship is the most rewarding experience.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.