It's weekend again! I've gone back to the gym yesterday and my legs are D E A D. I started my workout a bit too intensely, not thinking about how long it has been since I've last done any physical workouts. And now I am dealing with the consequence of putting too much pressure on my body. Lesson learned. 😅
My worst internship experience - Part 1
I was 17, studying IT in college. I quite enjoyed spending time on a computer and I figured I'd take my love for technology a little further. Assembling and disassembling computers, finding problems, solving these problems, etc. I enjoyed being in this school despite some teachers...
However, the teachers were not the main problem. In order to graduate, we'd have to go on an internship for 6 months, 3 times a week. During our internship we'd have to write a report about our experiences, what we've learned, what we've improved on, and what we need to get better at. On top of that, there were certain topics we had to focus on during our internship, such as helping customers different ways.
After sending my resume off to several companies, I found myself getting hired as an intern at a internet-/gaming-café. This company both served as a local internet café for tourists who needed to print something, as well as people to come together to play some rounds of League of Legends, Counter Strike, etc.
This company was owned by one lady, whose ex-boyfriend was the previous owner, who we will call Miss S. She and her ex-boyfriend have kids together, and during my first interview I saw that the kids were no older than a year or two. There was one other guy (B) who worked in this place, who I assumed was her boyfriend at the time.
I was introduced to my tasks; updating the computers, games and other software on them. Blowing the dust out of the towers with compressed air. And let me tell you, these computers have not been cleaned in A WHILE. Because of people allowing to smoke in this building, there were thick layers of dust coating the computer's hardware. It was disgusting, and I cleaned each computer one by one.
All of this was simple enough. I was given additional tasks which I didn't mind doing, such as cleaning the desks, washing dishes, vacuuming the floor... But then I was also told to clean the toilets? It wasn't exactly in my job description, but y'know, we were with very few people and I have issues saying no.
This continued on for a while. While working I was allowed to listen to music or watch YouTube videos, so I wouldn't have to constantly stare at an updating screen.
One day... Miss S's key to the front door broke into the lock. So she called a locksmith to break the door open. The lock had to be replaced and Miss S sent me off to get a new lock. She told me the lock is broken and that I needed to ask for the exact same one to fit the door.
At the store, I asked the clerk for the same lock. I was asked what was wrong with the one I had in my hands, and I said exactly what Miss S told me. The clerk observed the lock in my hands and said "this lock isn't broken". Me being socially awkward got embarrassed and tried to shrug it off: "It's what my boss said. I'm only doing what I'm told to."
I returned to the company with the new lock. Miss S then told me to install the lock in the door. I have 0 experience with these kind of things and because this is a front door lock, it's not just your average DIY project. This entire ordeal just felt a little off to me, and while I hesitantly took the new lock out of its packaging I asked Miss S the following: "Why am I doing this?"
With a very clear attitude she retorted: "Everyone does something different every now and then, it's normal." I understood where she was coming from, but me being 17 years old and still a student, my only intentions here were to learn more about my profession. Still, I kept my mouth shut and tried to install the lock into the door... But failed.
After trying a couple of times, I asked Miss S for help. She sighed, huffed, and puffed, and took over the entire DIY project and sent me back to my station to take care of the computers. I vaguely remember her finishing installing the lock and going "See? That wasn't so hard."
This was only the start of things getting worse for me. And my teenage self had no idea what she got herself into...
I am grateful for...
having time for myself. Without this, I surely would go mad. Or worse.
This week's song: Tonight Alive - Little Lion Man
Question of the week: Have you ever been on an internship? Is it important in your country, or not at all?
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