Last Monday, I arrived at the doorstep of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, ready to begin my internship with the Indiana INTERNnet, with a combination of anxiety and excitement. Is that not true of any adventure one is about to embark upon: knowing that nothing holds you back from failing; nothing holds you back from succeeding? The thrill of approaching the edge of a cliff in anticipation of jumping is suddenly contrasted by the gut feeling that claws you back to safety. Fortunately for me, this was not my first internship, and I did not have to fight that instinct too strongly for too long, but rather used it to propel me forward.
From the moment I walked in, I was greeted not only with smiling faces, but also with a finely choreographed office set up. Whether it was the signs that welcomed me onto the team or the cubicle that was fully stocked, I knew this work environment values both professionalism and teamwork. Next, Ms. Courtney took me on a tour of the facilities. I shook hands with 50+ people that morning, sharing my excitement with them and looking for that treasure of advice within (mildly reminiscent of last Sunday’s Easter egg hunt).
With a tricky name like mine, I was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone not only knew my name, but also was comfortable pronouncing it. The credit goes to the excellent system of organizational readiness, efficient emailing standards, and a corporate culture of engagement. Needless to say, by the end of the tour, I felt welcomed, valued, and expected to shine.
Last May, when I arrived in Prague and was immediately escorted on a guided tour of the beautiful city, I was trying to take it all in: every important site to visit, every new food to try, and every pronunciation of common local words. Overwhelmed, I decided to relax – forgetting about memorizing every detail, focusing on enjoying the experience. After all, I did have a map, a guidebook, and friends. So, when I sat at my desk on Monday morning and that all too familiar overwhelming feeling sunk in, I decided to relax. After all, I did have a map to the office pinned to my cubicle wall, a permanent guide in Courtney, and coworkers to lighten up the load and the atmosphere.
As I stepped off the Indy Express Bus this morning, I wondered if I would crash from the high of my first week on the job. Then, it dawned on me. Whether we are arriving at JFK, Union Station, or the front door, whether we are arriving at our first day of classes or our last, whether we are arriving at parenthood for the first, second, or third time, whether we are arriving at a lunch break, a holiday dinner, or a dinner-for-two, we are in a constant state of arrival. I realized my attitude is the only factor allowing me to change my perspective on the arrival ahead.
So, here I am on my second week of my internship, with the same if not increased enthusiasm to get the assigned tasks done. And, just like that, they do not feel like tasks anymore. Instead of arriving at tasks, I am arriving at opportunities. Is that not the purpose of every internship – to create an environment of opportunities for success?
