Finding my true passion: A pursuit of happiness via an internship
‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn’. This quote by Benjamin Franklin has inspired me and a lot of other people to learn new things and implement them.
I was always told that there is no better way to learn and give a boost to your career than doing an internship wherein you can develop various skills – technical and behavioral. And lucky me! I got a chance to intern at TEC India Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., an event company based in south Delhi. I was informed about the internship by the placement cell of the college. I went for the interview wherein I was asked about my educational background and why I had shifted from commerce to mass communication. I told them that while pursuing B.Com from Delhi University, I took up a diploma in mass communication to enhance my knowledge. During the diploma, I learnt a lot about media and journalism. It excited me so much that I decided to quit B.Com and pursue a degree in mass communication. They asked me if I had been a part of any event and if I knew how the industry worked. Also, I was questioned about the event which I liked the most. I had already done my research about various event companies and their best events and thus answered confidently. I told them that I had organized an event for National Voters’ Day 2016 in my college and got lauded for it. Although I was nervous initially, I ended up answering all their questions confidently. What motivated me was my belief that if I could not narrate my story with confidence, how would I work confidently.
I got hired as a social media intern. It was finally time to have a cubicle, spend nine hours in the workplace, and experience how the organizational structure works. The initial days of my internship were not what I had expected; they were boring and I was asked to work on random things. After a month of my monotonous routine, I was given a task to manage a five-day event in Lucknow with my manager. It was a doctor’s workshop consisting 270 participants for UNICEF. This seemed like a privilege to me and I wanted to give my best to make it a successful workshop. When I returned to the office after wrapping up the event, I got appreciated not only by my boss but also by the team of UNICEF.
During the internship, I discovered my talent as a writer. It was pure luck that I found out the one thing I had been searching for all my life – my innate talent. Being a social media intern, I wrote blog posts and articles, prepared sponsorship presentations and concepts for events, and handled RSVP calls. What interested me the most was writing. Whenever I was asked to write, I rejoiced. I had been too busy completing my education that I never got a chance to figure out what I loved. I am so glad to have taken this opportunity which helped me find my passion. Those six months made me gain a lot of information and cherishable memories, and at the end, I was offered a full-time job at TEC.
It is okay to realize certain things late in life but you should understand their importance when you do. I found my true calling through an internship. Try to grab every opportunity that comes your way. Explore as many industries as you can because you never know when or where you might discover your passion. Believe in yourself till the whole world starts believing in you.
Author of the article: Priyanka Manral