Written by Ava Fuduric
You return from an academic break blessed with holiday joy, but now have to trudge through the cold on your way to your first class of the new year. From here on out you’re burdened with a monotonous college schedule, compounding homework and the dreaded task of applying for summer internships. Don’t you cringe just thinking about it?
When the spring semester begins, there are certainly many things looming on a students’ mind: midterms, finals, the glimpse of a spring break and, of course, how to land that ideal (paid) summer internship.
Unfortunately, this time of year tends to be just as difficult as it sounds when it comes to finding an adequate opportunity that aligns with your career goals.
The pressure cooker
Time is crunching and the stakes are high – whether you’re pursuing a degree in engineering, marketing, fine arts or anything in between – everyone is competing for that coveted “intern” title.
We all want the best for our future, and what better way to set ourselves up for success than being victoriously selected for an internship that could spearhead your career. With the goal of building a portfolio, enhancing your resume and having that “real-world” experience under your belt to properly enter the professional world, the pressure is surely on.
If the thoughts above hit close to home, rest assured you’re not alone in feeling the weight of it all. Many college students share the frustration of the stress-inducing process that is securing internships, especially when administrative faculty seem to emphasize their importance at every turn.
Perhaps, in our drive to succeed, we’ve set the bar too high for ourselves and maybe that’s for our own good.
It’s not a “make-or-break”
Let’s not forget the wide misconception that students need their near future sorted out the second the new year sounds. From questions like, “what’s next?” to seeing others seemingly thrive in their “perfect” plans, we feel trapped in a rigid timeline.
Getting an internship isn’t the defining moment of your life or career, but it’s easy to feel like those big decisions will shape our future. Unfortunately, society doesn’t help to eliminate that pressure with its promotion of instant success and linear progress, when in reality, college and life are much more flexible than that.
The coming year likely won’t follow a straight path, but it will be full of opportunities for growth, exploration and learning. Life moves in seasons of growth and waiting, and sometimes we plant seeds we won’t see bloom until much later.
Having space to discover your values, passions and goals is important – not just meeting society’s relative deadlines. In that, we should find satisfaction in all forms of growth, whether it's discovering what we don't want to do, learning a new skill or balancing life's demands.
So, if you’re not ready for an internship, find the application process challenging or don’t get selected for a position, remember that your current season is just as valuable as those grand plans we feel pressured to have all figured out.
Finding balance
Now, let’s tackle career planning, but at a comfortable pace. Although getting an internship can be an important part of that process, it isn’t the only road to success.
Many students enhance their resumes and portfolios by actively participating in student organizations. These college groups offer valuable opportunities to explore interests beyond the classroom, hosting activities and events that provide hands-on experience, helping students to gain practical skills and develop qualities that make them stand out.
Other alternatives to internships include volunteer work, shadowing professionals and networking. Reaching out to local nonprofits or fields you’re interested in can bring about just as much opportunity and give you insights into your desired future without the formal commitment of an internship.
Regardless of the path you take, each step writes a story that is uniquely yours. The weight of your schedule and the pressure of career planning might still linger, but these challenges are not permanent. Success isn’t a race, it’s a thoughtful process discovered at your own pace.
So as the cold air bites your nose and you take your first steps into this semester, remember not to let the pressure of expectations freeze your progress.