College is expensive, though I don’t need to tell you that. In such a high-pressure environment, we are told to work hard and build up our experiences despite the little to no guarantee that any of us will be able to jump into our desired field of work. Of course, some jobs are more accessible than others, that’s just a fact of life. As a student who is willingly entering the film industry – a field literally know for its instability and unpredictability – I may seem like a hypocrite for ranting about this sort of thing. But regardless, I think we can all agree we deserve some sense of security when it comes to our future.
On this part, Wheaton has worked hard to cultivate an environment that, if not directly, provides students with experience that connect them with internships in their prospective field of study. The Career Services provide not only advice but also funding and other support as needed for students to get the experience they need to their best ability. One of the main concerns nailed into every student’s mind is the vital use of the three-month-long summer break during which students aren’t writing essays or reading through stalks of books: Summer Internships.
The main thing I have worked on during this past summer and this upcoming summer has been attaining internships that both train me and give me enough connections with the world to utilize after I graduate college. We all know it’s what builds your resume and prepares you at least slightly for stepping into post-grad life. But what if you don’t get that perfect internship? The dream internship that could get us the best job? With my own anxiety sometimes not having everything lined up as planned feels like the end of the world. But I don’t think it should be.
Currently, out of the application woods, it’s time for me to make a decision between an internship that could be a straight shot to a career, but would leave me more broke than I am; or one that’s more unique. We’re told by everyone from advisors to articles like “10 ways to make a great resume,” that the right internship is key to getting the right job. But if we all have a perfectly aligned resume, what sets us apart from the rest of equally perfect resumes?
When applying to college, I remember being told that what set you apart from all the other applicants wasn’t as much your grades, as your activities and essays. They wanted someone unique and different from the crowd of perfect applicants. Sure you need the basics: the right steps and applicable skills. But it may also be worth the effort to try a job that may otherwise seem like a step sideways instead of forward.
Overall, what I think I finally have come to realize is that we’re so focused on finding the right place rather than getting the right experience. What seems perfect, doesn’t always turn out the way you hoped or get you the result you thought it would. I think we should take a chance on something other than our main focus because you never know what could give you more than you expect of it. You don’t have to be perfect, you just need to make it work for yourself.