Five interns whose struggle is real

Five interns whose struggle is real

Carlee Colvard, Assistant Editor

Internships may not be a necessary evil, but they do have their drawbacks. 

Having to complete an internship is a season of life where one not only has to work for “the man,” but sometimes he or she has to do the dirty work… and without getting paid. Awful? Yes. It brings a whole new meaning to the idiom, “learn the hard way.” Worth it? That’s up to the intern. Sometimes an intern just has to make the best of every situation. 

Here’s five interns who understand the struggle. 

   

2. Interns get the privilege of doing the dirty work.

Emily Drake is a senior English major who interned at Out of Darkness, a nonprofit organization for women coming out of the sex trafficking industry.

data-animation-override>
“Our building was really old and overnight one of the lights exploded. I was the one who had to clean it up. There was this liquid all over the floor that I thought was water. Then, they realized it wasn’t water, but mercury, and they had to find clothes for me to change into.”

   

4. Interns have to work around other people’s hours.

Alex Trammell is a senior accounting major interning at Gail Humphries CPA Office in Gaffney, S.C.

data-animation-override>
“They’re only open from nine to five and because of classes, it’s hard to work in my hours. I have to drive an hour to get there, but I can only work two or three hours at a time. ”

   

1. Interns aren’t always paid for what they do. It’s okay though. It’s not like interns are trying to get through college or anything.

Danielle Kiessling is a senior health and wellness major interning at a physical therapy outpatient clinic. 

data-animation-override>
“My struggle, which might sound greedy, but I don’t mean for it to sound that way, is that I am not getting paid, but I have to travel to the internship and then gas expenses and food are paid for out of my pocket.”

     

3. Sometimes interns don’t always know what they’re doing.

Kelsie Windsor is a senior intercultural studies major interning at Edwards Road Baptist Church.

data-animation-override>
“I know nothing about megabytes, Photoshop or anything that involves the slightest bit of technological knowledge. Sometimes it can be a struggle to get certain tasks done because I just don’t know how to do it. So if anything, interning has taught me that I work way better with people than I do with computers.”

     

5. Sometimes it takes a while for interns to gain other people’s trust in their abilities.

Frank Gossett is a junior youth ministry studies major interning at New Hope Baptist Church in Mauldin, S.C.

data-animation-override>
“Gaining the respect from the kids and building relationships takes a while but it is so worth it. I wanted them to trust me and know I wanted to help. After eight months of being with one group of kids, they’re just now trusting me more.”