Since I have started my internship, I have had some interesting experiences and difficult times that I don't always know how to deal with. I then realized that I had become Michael Scott, not in the boss sense, but in the crazy sense where I'm overwhelmed at times and have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Of course, there are times when I completely understand what I'm doing, but I feel like those moments aren't as often as I had hoped or expected. So here is life at an internship as told by Michael Scott.
1. I have no idea what is going on and what you are asking me to do.
The other day, I had to figure out what the difference between cubby names and name plates are. I still don't know.
2. Please help me figure out how to communicate professionally.
Whenever I talk to someone at my internship, it's a mix of me mumbling random things or spouting bits of unhelpful information.
3. I'm terrified and confused, but I'll pretend like it's all good.
When you have your mid-internship evaluation and are in full out panic mode because you've definitely screwed more than one thing up during this internship.
4. I think I understand what you need me to do, but I'm still really confused.
This is me after a meeting with my mentor; I get a quick sense of clarification and understanding of what I'm supposed to do followed by complete confusion and sometimes frustration.
5. Okay, I promise I'm in college and I'm smart, but I need you to dumb it down for me.
The other day, my mentor asked me to take pictures of each staff member and upload them to the computer then make it black and white and take out the background. I had to ask her how to turn on the camera so you can guess how that went.
6. Don't give up; you'll start to get the hang of it eventually.
Internships are hard, but they're worth the challenge. We all screw up, but I promise that you'll succeed at some point during your internship (at least once).