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Internship brimmed with fun, opportunity

It's gotten lonely as the sole Times summer intern left at the downtown offices. I eat lunch at my desk. I take my cigarette breaks alone. I go home and have dinner in an empty house, watching guilty-pleasure VH1 reality shows to pass the time.

By Nina Kim, Times Staff Writer
Published September 9, 2007

It's gotten lonely as the sole Times summer intern left at the downtown offices. I eat lunch at my desk. I take my cigarette breaks alone. I go home and have dinner in an empty house, watching guilty-pleasure VH1 reality shows to pass the time.

Most of the 15 or so interns left about three weeks ago. Northwestern University's wacky trimester schedule had me starting and ending my internship late.

I can't believe it's over. This 11-week internship was action-packed. This was no "stare blankly at your computer screen and maybe we'll give you a story" internship.

I never felt like "just the intern," and assignments were not only relevant but interesting.

People always say, "It seems like just yesterday I was ..." and "Where has all the time gone?" But quite frankly, my first day seems like ages ago.

I drove more than 250 miles researching a story about the cheapest new cars. I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to cover a 7 a.m. Verizon protest in Tampa. I mingled with locals and deciphered P.R. speak. On my third day, I was on the verge of tears, overwhelmed by three stories on my plate. Now, I feel I'm able to juggle stories with finesse.

It was the best feeling to have coworkers congratulate me on a story. I never felt intimidated asking questions. I appreciated the sincere "How's it goings?" and my cubicle buddies, who always gave me a good laugh.

Even though I started my internship later, I quickly got to know most of the interns well. We always let each other know which department brought in cupcakes, and soon we were going out to dinners, movies and the beach. It was the wonderful intern group that made a great internship awesome.

Having been the only intern at my previous two internships, I was grateful to have a group of interns with whom I could empathize. I feel lucky to have been a part of the Times' internship program. From luncheons to scholarship offers, it was an internship full of fun and opportunity.

Now, I'm headed back to school for my last year to "strike another match, go start anew." As much as I'm looking forward to going back to 2 p.m. naps and no-class Fridays, I'll truly miss the spontaneity, excitement and lessons of the Times newsroom.

Nina Kim recently returned to Northwestern University to continue her journalism studies.

[Last modified September 7, 2007, 17:24:02]