It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity of a lifetime, and it’s not everyday that you get to work alongside some of the nicest and most popular people in the industry. This summer, I got to experience both of those things.
On June 1, I walked into the infamous studio of the nationally syndicated radio show, Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. That was my first day ever as an intern.
Not only had I been offered the opportunity of a lifetime for my first internship, but I was also going to be a web intern for one of my favorite radio shows. I worked alongside the fabulous Web Girl Kathleen, got to learn about the ins-and-outs of what goes into making a morning show happen and even said good morning to Justin Bieber!
Many of you may be embarking on your first internship this semester, or may be waiting until you feel like you’re professionally ready enough to take on the responsibilities of being an intern. Either way, your first internship is one that you’ll probably never forget, and like me, you’ll probably learn a lot along the way. I came up with a list of three important lessons I learned this summer, and want to, hopefully, guide you in the right direction when you start your first internship ever.
Don’t take the opportunity for granted.
Often we tend to overlook some of the wonderful opportunities we’ve been given. We accept what we’re doing, and don’t think twice about the doors that have been opened for us.
If you’ve been offered an internship, especially one high up in the industry you want to break into, be incredibly thankful. Accept the internship, work hard, but never forget about the opportunity you’ve been given. Remember, you’ve been selected out of hundreds of other applicants to be a part of a team that makes great things happen.
Work hard.
This seems like a no brainer, but it can be confusing when we start mixing work with play. As entertaining and exciting as it was to work with the Morning Show crew, it was important for me to remember that not everything is all fun and games.
It’s great to laugh and crack some jokes all day long, but never forget that at the end of the day you have a job to do. So keep that in mind, and do your best! Trust me, hard work will always pay off.
Don’t compare yourself to others.
This can be hard to avoid. From personal experience, as much as I tell myself that I shouldn’t be comparing myself to others, I ultimately end up doing so and regretting it.
This summer I spent a lot of time comparing myself to the other interns around me. I noticed that they spoke up more and automatically felt more comfortable right off the bat than I ever did. It took me at least two months to realize that each intern, myself included, was adjusting to being in a new environment in his or her own way.
Regardless of the situation, everyone learns and adjusts to things differently. So don’t worry if you find yourself being more of a wallflower at first. As a fellow wallflower myself, I can promise you that there is nothing wrong with sitting back and watching how people work and interact first, and then diving head first into the work you need to do. Everything is uncomfortable at first, but eventually your comfort level will change, and you’ll have the time of your life while being the best intern you could possibly be.
So for all of you out there who are staring an internship for the first time, don’t sweat it. You’ll be great, you’ll work hard, and the effort you put in will be worth it in the end. Good luck, and kick some butt!
Photo Credit: Cover, all others are the author’s own