“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Who hasn’t been asked that question? I know I have, and when I was little I would say “fashion designer” or “dancer.” Now, I say, “I don’t know.” The possibilities are endless. Being a psychology major, I could go into advertising, journalism, marketing, or various other career paths. Maybe I’ll go to grad school and become a psychologist. Young adulthood is all about finding yourself, and internships are an integral part of this.
“Don’t knock it until you try it.” My mom has always been an advocate of this saying, and I must agree with her (for once). I’m not one of those people with a 10-year plan with every detail and strategy formulated. I don’t even know what I’m doing tomorrow. So, I decided it was probably a good idea to listen to my mom and try things out.
It is true, you don’t know you won’t like something until you actually try it out, and if you hate it, then just don’t do it again. No harm, no foul. I worked the sales floor of a clothing store, I worked on the website of a clothing company, and now I’m interning as a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista. The sales floor clearly wasn’t for me, since I just tried on clothes the whole time. However, I loved working on copyright in the clothing company’s website, and I adore the creative writing aspect of my current internship.
From just dipping my feet into these three different opportunities, I learned that I like using my creativity and imagination. Now, I will definitely be pursuing internships and jobs that incorporate these two qualities. Who knows what I’ll be doing next year, or in five years, but at least I know what I won’t be doing.
So, apply to a ton of internships, go to career fairs, join clubs, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there because who knows who you’re going to meet or the opportunities you’ll find. You might be finding that one job that makes you wake up every day with a smile on your face. If you’re totally lost, read a book for inspiration, and don’t let fear get in your way. Treat every new chance as a new food. It may seem foreign and unknown, but have a small taste of it, and it might become your new favorite food.
Who knows, maybe I’ll be the CEO of some multi-billion dollar company. Maybe I’ll be an editor at a fashion magazine. Maybe I’ll be a cat lady. Just kidding. Hopefully. But at least I’ll have tried it all out through numerous internships and opportunities. Stay motivated, reach for the stars, and work hard at that internship ladies! Don’t forget to dress for success!
Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? Sound off in the comments below!
