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Kaavya Raveendran

Blog: That feeling of being lost on the first day of your internship

Blogger Kaavya Raveendran has started her internship and learned that with great steps come great challenges.
Kaavya Raveendran

Kaavya is an MSc student of Food Technology.

‘Waking up on Monday is always hard, but this Monday was different. This one gave me butterflies in my tummy. Taking out formal clothes, making sure they are crease-free, pairing them with formal shoes and finally tying my hair into a neat hairdo – that’s what it took to start the first day of my internship. I realized how different I felt from within already. It felt like I was suddenly bumped up to travel business class. But then the butterflies resumed their activities in my tummy, making me anxious again.

James Bond

I entered the building, swiping my first company ID, immediately gaining access to the professional upgrade that was awaiting me. Just by thinking of how I would tell my friends and family that I am “busy at the office” or “stuck in a meeting”, I kinda felt as cool as James Bond. I was warmly welcomed by everyone in the department, and I was also introduced to my spot and work laptop. A little later, I sat in my designated spot, thinking about how I could make a difference within the next six months.

In the afternoon I had a project discussion meeting with my supervisor. This is when I was reminded of all my friends who had started with their thesis two weeks ago and were struggling to find the right research question, and how I thought at the time that I wouldn’t have to do that, because duh… I am doing an internship first. But boy, little did I expect, with greater steps come greater challenges. Halfway through my project meeting, I realized that the project was an even bigger ocean, with an immense scope to dive in and catch the fish of my choice.

Willpower

Spoon feeding is one of the last things I expect, but when the responsibilities are big, risks look riskier and challenges look more challenging. After a momentary lapse of being lost, I regained perspective. I see this as an opportunity, bigger than any one I had to face before. A challenge which will assess my willpower and the willingness to innovate.’

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