Internship Thoughts 1 - "Armed only with a butter knife ..."

I am an intern. It's an affirmative statement because I'm quite happy with the situation. I'm getting paid to learn my profession.

The bulk of my responsibilities have been to: file paper backups of registrations; fold and stuff registration confirmations into envelopes; process substitutions and cancellations; and most importantly stuff badges. (Hence the name of this blog.)

It hasn't been rocket science.

Take as an example my first conference as an intern. I knew that my main role was to be super helpful. Stuff badges? No problem. Move tables, set out conference materials? Just point me in the right direction. Open boxes? I'd be glad to.

I wondered if the situation was a metaphor for my entry into the industry or possibly a reflection on my status in the company. I was tasked with opening approximately 40 boxes.

However, I was armed only with a butter knife. (Also a tempting name for this blog.)

I clearly didn't have the right tool for the job. I asked, politely as I could, if there was something more appropriate. However, the boxcutter wasn't in the supply box and a butter knife was the best the hotel could provide at the moment.

Sensing no other options, I attacked my tower of boxes and mauled my way through to victory.

In reality, it was probably just an affirmation of corporate life; The last box I opened contained a box cutter.