The Internship That Changed Everything (Or Didn't ”And That's Okay Too): Internship Guide

Everyone acts like your first internship is going to be this life-changing moment. Your parents are excited. LinkedIn is flooded with glowing posts.

And you're thinking: “What if mine isn't amazing? What if I hate it?"

Good. That's actually the whole point.

What Internships Actually Are: Professional Exploration

Professional exploration - You're testing out a career, a company, a vibe. You're allowed to decide it's not for you. That's one of the best outcomes.

You learn something. You meet people. You get clarity about whether you want this. Maybe you love it. Maybe you realize it's boring.

Either way, you learned something real about yourself.

The Pointless Internship: (And What It Teaches You)

You're making coffee. You're copying and pasting. It feels like a waste.

But here's the thing: this tells you something. About the company. About what you don’t  want. You're learning what prestige feels like when you're actually living it.

Take notes. Ask questions. And know you don't owe them your energy if they're not investing in you.

The Surprise Internship: When Your Plans Change

You signed up for one thing. Got assigned to something else. Now you're obsessed.

Someone wanted marketing, got stuck on data, loved it. Someone thought law, interned at a firm, realized nonprofit was their thing.

Pay attention when this happens. Your brain is telling you something.

What You Should Do During Your Internship

Go in curious, not desperate to impress.

Ask real questions. "What's a typical day?" "What do you wish you'd known?"

Observe the vibe. Do people seem happy? Stressed? Do they have a life outside work?

Don't quit in a panic, but don't stay miserable either. 

Write down what you learned. Not just skills. The vibe. What excited you. What drained you.

The Real Talk

Your internship doesn't define your future. It's one data point.

But don't fake it to make it look good on your resume. Your future is too long to spend in spaces that don't feel right.

Use the school breaks to actually figure stuff out.