I’m sure you’ve noticed the recent influx of
Instagrams and Facebook statuses that read something along the lines of, “So
blessed for the exciting and amazing opportunity to intern for (insert company
here) this summer!!!! How did I get so lucky?!”
We all know how you got so lucky: you worked
your butt off and spent more hours researching and sending in cover letters
than you did studying for the ACT and applying for college. Usually, I’m very against social media boasting, but
I respect these individuals for making it through the rigorous and frustrating
process that comes with the grand search for an internship.Getting an internship has become THE thing to do this semester. My question is why?? Why is everyone so obsessed with going through such a stressful process for an exhausting experience?! Is it because it looks good on our resumes? Could it be that an internship is required for us to graduate? It might just be that we are coming to that age where an internship is expected of us, but it is trending so hard that the word “internship” makes most of us shake in our sandals.
We all might have different reasons, but one thing is for sure: internships are the latest campus trend. We have seen them transform from a cool thing to put on our resume, to a want, and now we are seeing them turn into a NEED.
The way people talk/Instagram about these internships make them seem so glamorous. For example, “I am spending a whole summer interning in New York!” Or, “I got an offer to intern for [insert well known company here] this summer!” If one of these sounds like something your BFF has told you, allow me to read you the small print before you turn green with envy. If you read one of those statements and thought to yourself, “Uh oh, that’s me,” keep in mind that #1) I am still impressed with you and #2) this article still applies to you.
There is a list of things you want to do your best to avoid as you embark on your summer internship. This list is what I refer to as “the small print." The small print includes the details of your so called glamorous life as an intern that the company whispers, “forgets” to mention, or flat out knows is unappealing to any human with decent standards.
The following are things you want to watch out for, ask about, be aware of, or completely refuse to partake in:
1. Getting Coffee -- To ensure your summer is spent in the office rather than at Starbucks, my advice is to spill it on them the first day... I’d be willing to bet they won’t be asking you to get coffee again.
2. Long commute to work -- Whether you are walking, taking the bus, using your own gas, or taking the subway, transportation is something to be aware of when choosing your internship. I promise you don’t want to wake up in the summer an hour and a half earlier than you would if your internship were closer.
3. Living condition -- Those glamorous New York and Los Angeles internships typically come with a big price tag. Sure, your internship might be paid, but minimum wage does not pay for a penthouse apartment overlooking the city or glitzy nights at the Ritz. It might pay for a small apartment with a pullout couch.
4. Observing -- If you are giving up your summer for an internship, you sure as heck won’t want to spend the three months watching people work. Make sure your employers know that you want to be given tasks and responsibility.
5. Money -- This is important to some, but unimportant to others. A lot of internships are unpaid because they can be. Other internships are low paid because they can be. Make sure you know which one yours is, and if you are okay with that before accepting.
If you are one of those social media boasters, a big congrats goes to you. If you are still in the searching process, I bid you good luck. If you currently find yourself in neither situation, know that I am the one green with envy.
Welcome back
Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends
or
LOG IN WITH FACEBOOKNo account? Create one
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
1. Please just be seasonal allergies
You wake up feeling icky one morning and think “Oh it must be allergies, I bet I’m fine.”
2. I must not have gotten enough sleep last night
You go through your day as normal, but you feel gross and more tired than usual.
3. I’ll just take a little nap
You finally get back from class and work and think “Oh, I’m just going to lie down in bed for a little bit.”
4. Oh no, I have so much due tomorrow!
You wake up and realize you slept six hours, it is now 11 pm and you have done none of your homework.
5. I’m fine, I’ll just sleep it off
You stay up until 3 am doing the homework and finally get to go to sleep, you think “Oh I’ll be better in the morning” (clearly you’re in denial).
6. Do I have to be responsible today?
You wake up that morning, you have slept through your alarm and don’t even want to get up.
7. Ugh no, I can’t actually be sick
You start thinking, “maybe this isn’t allergies.”
8. Alright, I’ll take some medicine and I’ll be fine
You throw on clothes really quick, go to your classes (even though you’re late) and go to work anyway (still in denial).
9. This is the worst day of my life
You get back from class and work again and your nose is stuffed, you’re coughing and you feel dizzy.
10. Mom?
You call your mom because she always knows what to do.
11. She was right (like always)
She tells you to take your temperature, you do and you find out you have a fever.
12. Too bad you're busy and can’t take the day off tomorrow
You decide to take some medicine and sleep it off, because of course, you have to be better for class, work and any activity you have for the next day.
13. You think about taking the day off, but realize you have like three tests
The next morning, you’re behind on classwork, you still have a fever, but you can’t miss your classes and you have a very busy day, so you go anyway.
14. You think you're actually going to be sick forever
The cycle continues, until it's either the weekend or you decide work and class can wait and you need a day to rest.
15. Finally, you're better!
Eventually, after being sick through class and work for about a week or so you’re finally better, and you pray that you don’t get sick again, only to do it all over the next month.
Janko Ferlic
1. You only ask things once.
Asking to go to your friends house a second time is futile. In fact, it may make things worse.
2. Seriously, you only ask once.
You don’t get to go out Friday and Saturday, silly child. Choose one.
3. When you do muster up the courage to ask your parents for something, you creep around and wait until they’re in a good mood.
This significantly improves your chances of getting a yes. Pro tip: Doing extra chores helps.
4. Before you get that final yes, you have to go through an interview.
Who are you going with? What time? Where are you going? Who else is going? Who are their parents? Where do they work? How long have they been there?
5. If you ever got “the eye,” you knew you were screwed.
Prepare yourself for a lecture when you get home.
6. You were always the first to leave your group of friends when hanging out.
If you ever want to be able to go out again, you better go home on time.
7. If you say you will be home at a certain time, you better be home at that time.
Calls start coming the minute you’re late.
8. Seeing a missed call from your parents sends fear and horror through your veins.
R.I.P. if you see two or more missed calls.
9. If relatives are coming over to the house, your room better be clean.
Because the one room they will not go in determines the cleanliness of the rest of the house.
10. You are careful about what jokes you share with your parents.
Anything remotely inappropriate results in a 10 second joke turning into a 30 minute lecture.
11. "You’re not an adult until you turn 18! You can do whatever you want then!"
Disclaimer: When you turn 18, it becomes, “My roof, my rules.”
12. If plans change while you’re out, you better text or call.
Don't be that kid that gets caught by their parents driving somewhere they weren't supposed to be.
13. Don’t talk back. Ever.
I don’t care if you were told to hunt down the last unicorn in the world using a pot of gold stolen from the leprechaun at the end of a rainbow. Just do it.
14. When you’re called by your full name, you’re in deep trouble.
Say your prayers.
15. Don’t make them call your name twice.
The second you hear your name being called, drop everything you’re doing and run.
16. Sleepovers are not a thing.
They just aren’t. Why sleep somewhere else when you have a bed at home?
17. Despite all of these things, you know your parents love you.
They might not always show it, but they do.
tv.com
1. Pets
Getting a pet is great -- cats, dogs, fish, or any sort of thing you can keep makes you care for something beyond yourself and gives you company. (Some are huggable, too!) As a pet owner, you can definitely tell when they’ve gotten into trouble … and sometimes you get a little weird with them. Non-pet owners just wouldn’t understand.
2. Mornings
Without parents to wake you up, how do you even? Or, you know, if you fall asleep at your desk studying because you're working hard. Rough life, man. And mornings were hard enough as it was.
3. Mistakes
We all make mistakes, Ross. It's fine. Whether you mixed your colored laundry with your whites, or you were cleaning and you bleached something that was not meant to be bleached, there's gonna be nobody at fault but you. And even if you're by yourself (or your cat is judging you), you have to own up to it, and move on.
4. Cooking for yourself
Nobody can do sarcasm like Phoebe. Cooking is very exciting in the beginning and all, but once you're at that stage in your life when you're too lazy to even make ramen, and all you have in your fridge is an empty milk carton and some leftovers from last week, well, it's a lot less fun.
5. Hosting
You've finally got a place where your friends can hang and people can come over! But see above. Cooking, cleaning, all that stuff you need to do to prepare for guests is harder than it seems, and if you keep telling yourself that pizza isn't a cop-out, then everything will work out.
6. Taking care of yourself
Just like Chandler, you might not be entirely aware of what health and sanitation is. It's fine, we've all been there. And it's a lot harder than it seems. You're not alone.
7. Holidays
Since you can go all out, you will, and there's nothing your roommates can do about it. Friendsgiving? Heck yeah! St. Patty's Day? Of course! And best of all, Halloween, where your space becomes the spookiest around (on a budget, of course, nobody's made of money).
8. Roommates
So maybe you don't live exactly alone. It's good to have a roommate, right? Especially if they're a good roommate, so you don't have to be picking up after them or complaining to your cat. And when you want to have a do-nothing day, they'll be there for you (and you'll be there for them too.)
9. Keeping focused and getting stuff done
Don't even pretend. That's hilarious. If you can study, good for you, but the rest of us will be over here not doing what we should and hanging out with our friends instead. And cramming and panicking later.
10. Cleaning
If you've ever cleaned a place after a party, you are a survivor, a true warrior. Even cleaning bathrooms or the nooks and crannies of your place before a parent visits will yield some interesting results, however. You never know what you'll find, but it's usually not pleasant.
11. Social life
There's only two modes here: #foreveralone or everything's coming up roses. Without supervision or even any sort of restriction, you can do what you want to when you want to. That means going out ... or staying in. You can do whatever.
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Student Life
![bored kid]()
![Bob's Burgers]()
![Rory Gilmore]()
