This semester I have the privilege to intern in the marketing department at one of Buffalo’s finest gems: the Botanical Gardens. As I begin my internship at this breathtaking conservatory, I look back on my previous internship experience to see how much I’ve grown as a student, as a writer and as a professional. I’m pleased to say that my first internship at the Elmwood Village Association threw me out of my comfort zone and exposed me to aspects of Communication Studies I never thought I would engage in. I look forward to the new and unexpected challenges at the Botanical Gardens that will further broaden my professional horizons.
On my second day as intern I worked at the launch party for The Garden’s 4th annual Night Lights event. On top of being able to witness a stunning array of exotic plant life as it is lit up in theatrical and interactive neon lighting, I got to take on a leadership role and see firsthand what it takes to run a large-scale event. While my role as point-person of the raffle table was not particularly glamorous or grueling, I was put in charge of four volunteers. And I’ll tell you, it felt darn good to have four volunteers come to me with questions, come to me for direction, and to rely on me as their leader. If my supervisor trusted me to oversee four people on day two of my internship, I can only imagine the potential leadership roles I’ll be trusted with.
The most memorable part of the night, however, came at the very end, when one of the Night Lights crew came up to me and said, “You did a great job tonight. Really, you did great work, so next time try not to look so scared.” His words caught me so off guard that I was stunned into silence, and the words “try not to look so scared” have been ringing in my head ever since. I thought the night went flawlessly. There were no major mishaps and I completed every task I was asked to do. That, to me, was a mark of success. However, after a careful look back at the night, I realize I might owe this man some credit. Although it’s hard to describe exactly how I felt the entire night, the best word I can come up with is “unsure.” Throughout the entire night, I was unsure. Unsure what to expect when I walked in the door, unsure of people’s names, unsure what my next job would be, unsure whether I was doing this the best possible way, and there’s no doubt in my mind that my “unsure-ness” was constantly evident on my face. This lead me to a humbling realization:
At internships, you are always going to be in a situation where you are unsure of what to expect, because quite frankly, this is your first real experience in the professional world. However, the fact that you don’t know something should never hold you back from working at your fullest potential.
Because the truth is, you are never going to know every possible thing that’s behind a door before you open it. So rather than letting the unknown make you apprehensive or tense, why not walk through that door with confidence? Know that you can handle whatever is thrown your way, and that if it’s something you can’t handle, well, you can handle that too.
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