This is posted as part of our Summer Intern Blog Series. Be sure to come back each week as interns from around the country share their summer experiences with us!
By: Kelly Cartner, @kellyfavre4
Although my time as an intern will last for a few more months, the sun is setting on the summer, except after being in Michigan for 22 years, it seems to be summer in California every day! The fall semester starts soon and thanks to @Todd_TTU for the wonderful idea, I would also like to summarize my five key takeaways from the summer.
#1 — Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Being an intern, you will come across a lot of tasks that will be new to you and a little uncomfortable. The best thing to do is embrace the fact that you will be getting out of your comfort zone and realize that this will help you grow as a person, professionally and personally. You will push your own limits and before you know it, the item that was once uncomfortable will now turn into something you love. Accept the process and get out of your comfort zone!
#2- Every Day is an Interview
You never know who is watching you, and of course I mean that in a professional way. When you continue to work hard and start to catch the attention of those around you, you will be glad you stayed after to help clean up or to help wash the tennis courts. Treating every day as if it were an interview will place you in pole position. You will be ahead of the game and references will be coming from every direction. Chop wood, carry water and get down with the dirty work.
#3- Be Confident
As an intern, you will be asked to do a few things you will have no clue how to do. This is, of course, a great thing because as soon as you say “yes” with enthusiasm unknown to mankind, it will put others at ease. They will learn to build their trust with you and identify you with being a confident individual willing to take on new tasks. This will lead to more responsibility and even better experiences. As I mentioned earlier this summer, walk like a matador, as if you are the expert and others are waiting to learn from you. Be confident, believe in yourself and let yourself know that you can do anything you set your mind to.
#4- You Get Out What You Put In
From the boring, mundane tasks to the exciting media press conferences, any experience is what you make of it. You can turn anything in to an advantageous learning experience as long as you have the right mindset. Going into any assignment asking yourself what you are going to learn that day can change the way you view that same assignment. You have already committed the time to the internship, now make sure you are getting out what you want because in the end that is in your control.
#5- See Challenges as a Space to Learn and Grow
You can be 20 days into your career or 20 years, but no matter what, you will always be facing challenges. Try not to look at these challenges as failures, but instead view them as learning opportunities and assess the situation. Be happy you just hit a bump in the road because now you have the chance to put yourself back on course. Realize some areas in which you need improvement on and own it. Take control and take this opportunity to grow. We will be learning our whole lives, so there really isn’t a reason to try and deny it!
Here at the University of the Pacific, I get to learn something new every day, whether it be about my career, myself or the people around me, but I am thankful I am in an environment to learn. We truly can never stop learning, it’s a wonderful thing. I have had a wonderful ride this summer and I can’t wait to see what is in store for me this upcoming school year. In nine months I will have a Master’s degree and on my way to backpacking in Europe. I can’t wait to look back and reflect on this experience and know I put my best effort into it.
I want to thank everyone who read my blogs throughout the summer and provided me with an immense amount of support. So many of my friends back in the mitten, fellow grad students and of course my professors were all a great support system this summer and I can’t thank them enough for their encouragement. It is heartwarming to know how many friends I continue to have by my side.
Words cannot describe how much I appreciate the Front Office Sports team for allowing me to have this opportunity. This is a tremendous group of individuals who want to help facilitate the success of others in the sportsbiz community and they are doing just that. These are people that everyone hopes they can work for one day and I am so honored to have had that opportunity this summer.
I will leave you all with one of my favorite quotes, “I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the Earth. Then I ask myself the same question.” — Harun Yahya.
