My First Event as an Intern

Being a full time student is difficult. Getting a job out of college is more difficult, but no one ever talks about how difficult it is to find a relative internship that will benefit your education and career path.

Since 2012 I worked in the bicycle industry selling and working on bicycles. This was one of my favorite jobs, but it became clear it was not a career. The hours were long and the pay was low, until I met the best boss I ever had. He taught me more about contributing to the workforce than any class I had ever taken. Unfortunately, I had to leave his shop to pursue other opportunities. He understood and supported me as if I was his son.

Networking was not always my strong suit, as I tend to be shy and have a hard time remembering names. I learned how to meet people, but then could not recall them if I ran into them after that. My dad spent a lot of time mentoring me on how to be a gentleman and what chivalry is. He introduced me to his co-workers who quickly took me under their wing and helped me as best as they could. My work ethic and willingness to learn grabbed their attention and they helped me promote myself to HR departments searching for an intern.

I was handed an opportunity in the form of an email address. I wrote an email and attached a resume. In the email I talked about my personality and my desire to grow as a person and employee. I sent it off to whomever would receive it, not knowing it was the CEO and managing partner of the company. He responded to me within 2 hours and informed me that they were unsure whether or not they were hiring an intern and that he would get back to me. Two days later I scheduled and interview, and two days after that I was offered an Internship.

Fast forward a week, when I was done with the required training, I met the project manager of my first event. She threw me in the deep end of a 5 foot pool. Enough water to drown, but enough help to succeed. I could have spent my summer fetching coffee and bagels, but life had another plan for me. I worked on this event until I didn't know what was left to do, then I asked for more assignments and completed them too. The event was the Ford Freedom Award. On the front end it went off without a hitch, which is all that really matters. We worked our tails off to make it all happen, and I got my first taste of a successful event that has made a difference in people's lives. It hit me like a drug, and now I'm hooked.