August 17, 2011
The Power to Part Ways
Response has been my first internship and my first real connection with the business world. Yet, rather than looking at it with such “professional” reflection, I would like to describe my time here in three simple words…
Orange.
Just looking at the color as it is, you know that it is the combination of red energy and yellow happiness, yet it unites together to what could be interpreted as a deep, intense orange or a light, soothing orange. The orange aura that resonates from Response is a direct reflection of any findings about the color. For instance, three words that orange represent are creativity, ambition and drive. While here, I have been able to apply the right side of my brain as creative as I want, I have gained the support that has pointed me in the right direction of where I want to be a few years from now, and has shown me that though I am a rookie in the actual business world, I can actually accomplish task, and well at that. One more thing about orange is that just being around the color orange increases self-esteem and confidence, so it doesn’t hurt to be surrounded by it all day.
Food.
I myself would consider myself a food entrepreneur, making and trying new foods whenever I get the chance. Being here has indeed introduced me to some great new foods, coupled with some great people to talk about it with. Whether Reed is taking me on a half hour walk across the city to try a sandwich from Book Trader, or the whole gang is chasing down the Grilled Cheese Truck, I must say my taste buds have never been dissatisfied. It may not seem important to some, but for me, having people around me who 1. appreciate my love of food and 2. also love to love food, send my endorphins buzzing and just makes the office an enjoyable place to be around.
Birds.
Again, an odd way to describe an experience at an Internship, but I think its fitting. When I first started here, we had a clan of baby birdies in our windows, who soon after flew away to start their adventure. Response has kind of been like a family of birds to me too. They didn’t smoother me in a pouch, but let me break out of my shell as I felt most comfortable (which didn’t take much time). They let me “build my own nest” of accomplishments by allowing me to intricately and independently approach and develop my tasks, and I now have a full portfolio. Instead of hovering like Kevin Spacey in “Horrible Bosses”, they just check up on me every once in a while, “feed” me words of encouragement, and let me know when I’m doing something right. Now that its my turn to, well, fly the coop, I feel like I have been nurtured and cared for in a way that has prepared me for the business world I am about to face, and I feel confident that I will succeed.
So as I say goodbye to Response, I do not feel sad, I do not feel lonely, and I do not feel like a normal intern (aka getting coffee and being the guinea pig). I feel talented, I feel appreciated, and I feel prepared. I can confidently say that I have gained the power to provoke.
