Internship: Cubicle Life

Korrin B.

July 10, 2010 - 2:46 PM

I think that one of the most important things to know about an internship is that not everything about it is going to smell like roses and glitter like gold. Sometimes, some of the best learning points come from what you realize you don't so much like about it. Internships are meant to be a short-term experience where one gets to try on a new hat and see if it fits, or more likely, which parts of it fit and which don't.

My internship with The Carter Center this summer has so far been a very diverse and enriching experience in the variety of opportunities it has presented me with. I have truly enjoyed getting to know such a high-achieving group of people and learning so much about events happening around the world. I appreciate the speaker series and social outings that the Center organizes for its interns and have truly gotten some knowledge from them all.

All of this being said, I think that it is only appropriate to be honest with the readers of my blog. I can write about how things are "interesting" or "exciting" until the cows come home, but am I offering the truth to my readers? In addition to the great aspects of my internship, there have also come some learning points in the form of not so appealing aspects. In a sense, I find that these aspects have actually taught me more about myself, my work, and what I really want to do as dance my way into the future. Therefore, I think that it is important to address these topics in this post.

I have learned that as cool as it is to have your own cubicle, it is not the life for me. I spend Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm in my cubicle, in front of my computer. Each morning when I walk into the building and breathe in the stale aroma of recycled, chilled air, I have to prepare myself for my cubicle life. Although some of the work I do is quite interesting and has offered me some new skills, I can't hide a sense of feeling deprived of human interaction. I long for moments of personal encounters. Sometimes it is hard to feel connected to the organization or to my own personal goals when I am unable to see the benefits my work has on the greater society. Last summer, I worked with the Fresh Air Fund. Some days, it was the hardest, most tiring job I could think of, but the exhaustion was always countered by the feeling of life-altering work. I knew that I was helping people in need and I did so by personally interacting with them.

I have learned that in the long run, a cubicle job is not for me. I need a career that will lead me down a path where I get to talk to other people, help other people, and walk around a bit. I need something that will help me get away from the computer screen and into the world. I want to feel inspired by the work that I do, every moment. I believe that the best way for me to accomplish this is through a position in which I get to interact with people and see the results of my work happen before my own eyes.

The second thing I have learned from my position here at The Carter Center is more so a reiteration of what I am truly interested in than it is a critique. Most of The Carter Center's work is done internationally. I have an incredible drive to travel the world. I want to work some jobs in other countries and volunteer my time with different groups around the globe. However, my career interest pulls me toward domestic work. I want to help solve the homelessness epidemic in the United States. I don't believe that in a country as wealthy as our's, I should be able to walk down the street and see men, women, veterans, and children, sleeping with no shelter. I applaud the work done by international nonprofits in third world countries, but it is not where my interest truly lies. I want to fix my backyard before I try to fix the world. I believe in change from the community up.

My internship with The Carter Center is the first experience I have had working with an international nonprofit. It has been a good experience for me to see the type of work that is being done internationally and I think that it has been an even better experience realizing that it is not the type of work I want to be involved in for the long run. I would like to work with international groups again for a year or two, but eventually, I would like to come back to my own home and learn how I can help the people there.

I think that the moment I realized that not everything I learn from an internship has to be "amazing," "interesting," or "exciting," was a very important event. I am able to look more broadly at my experience now and be open and honest about what I do and do not want as I head toward the future. It makes my internship here at The Carter Center even more valuable.

My upcoming year at the University of Oregon will be my last and it will send me off on my continuing path. From all of my experiences so far, I have learned that it truly will all be fine because all paths are correct. Each path brings a unique learning experience whether it involves organic farming throughout Southeast Asia, living like a bum or landing a professional fellowship in Washington, D.C., dressing in a pantsuit each day.