While classroom teaching has its limitations, real-world experience is something that actually teaches those who are courageous enough to step out of the comfort zone of the ‘Classroom’. During the summer break, students of Tetso College were encouraged to opt for an internship to get a taste of work life. This article gives a first-hand account of a 5th Semester student of English Literature who secured an internship opportunity at a reputed Publishing House in Dimapur.
“Interning Was Not on My Summer Bucket List”
Summer vacations are generally the happiest times for me and it matters a lot because I get some rest and relaxation from my daily college schedule. This year, considering a very special summer, I had planned out my bucket list, topping it off with going on a trip with my family and also to spend quality time visiting my long lost friends, watch multiple movies, and eat lots of water melons, when all of these summer dreams shattered for fate had something different store in for me.
As a student of Nagaland, I had this concept that jobs are meant to be done only after one graduates and not when you are a student. This misconception was cleared when one of our teachers encouraged us to enroll for summer internship program at different business firms and institutions in Nagaland, which will help us face the real world in the future.
Friends are an important part of my life and so, after a deliberate discussion with two of my friends and on agreeing that they too shall enroll for the internship, I at once worked on my resume to be sent searching for institutions who wanted to hire interns, which I wouldn’t have, if they didn’t.
I had the distinct opportunity of interning for three weeks at the reputed Heritage Publishing House, which I have always admired for being the face of breaking barriers for Naga writers and popularizing their works on National and International platforms. And again the greatest joy was that those two friends of mine also got selected for the same and we were the trio interns.
When the day finally arrived to pay our first visit and get oriented on the work that will be assigned to us, I felt a bit nervous and intimidated. It was likely my first foray into the professional world and I wished everything to go right. So many things were hovering around my head like, will there be rigid rules and regulations to bind us? Will the workload be out of my capacity? Or will the seniors be kind and welcoming, and many other mixed anxiety feelings.
Surprisingly, the first day as an intern went smoothly. Dr. Lanusangla Tzudir who is the proprietor, publisher and chief editor oriented us with a warm welcome note and designated us as copy editors. Now, it was a happy moment to call ourselves as copy editors but at the same time pressured and anxious for we were very much new to that profession although Literature is our field. Fortunately, we had a diligent lady supervisor who took complete care of us and made sure that we were comfortable by introducing us to the whole team.
Special navigation was given on what are the duties of an editor and by applying those techniques; we had to edit manuscripts of research papers on Nagaland by the students from Hyderabad University who wished to publish it as a book. I had a share of three copies. With little knowledge and zero experience on how to edit a manuscript, somehow I managed to complete it within five days of my working as an intern. Whether my work satisfied our supervisor is another story, because it was quite disastrous.
On the sixth day, my little brain stormed searching for angles, decors and words as we were assigned by our supervisor to compose the description about forty one books as a caption which were published by the Heritage Publishing House, as well as click the pictures of the same to help her advertise it on Social Media. There, I came across a poetry book titled Penmi Poems A Requiem which I had known beforehand that holds a beautiful undying love which a lover released in memoir. Death was sure in their way yet, love grew stronger and stronger with pure promises, promises which cannot die. Narrating the story with full of emotions to my colleagues was one of my greatest achievements working there.
As I passionately thought up ideas on how to help her advertise the books, I realized that my suggestions could add more colors and there was a genuine connection that made me want to help her even more.
On one particular day, I had a severe stomach cramp which distracted me from working but our supervisor lady took extra special care of me by supplying remedy and also my friends offered to do my share of work for which I am very thankful even today. There I’ve realized working environment with good colleagues is very important and not just the work. It was such a rare case for me to find a supervisor who became my favorite mentor and much more than that, a sister who could understand my problems. A complete opposite picture of a rude supervisor was foiled.
Our trio journey together to the workplace was a moment of discovering our potentials as well as food never failed to accompany us. On the last day of our internship, we got awarded with certificates and books which are priceless to me.
What makes this particular experience special is that I am able to understand how powerful my contributions are not only to the firm but to the world. I am very happy that my inner soul is satisfied. Skill-wise, we are all able to expand our research and writing abilities every day, but when it comes to application for the benefit of the masses, our abilities are shallow which needs a better platform to widen up and internships like working in a publishing house can provide us with that platform.
To dedicate my passion and enthusiasm along with hard work in a diversified environment where spreading knowledge and educating the masses with a vision is my absolute career objective, which I strongly believe in, and with the help of this internship, I had grown my real-world experience and further helped me develop and refine my skills. I wish I had taken this internship platform since the first year of my BA so that by now I could have gained valuable work experience as much as I could.
Therefore, I encourage all the students to be wise and grab every opportunity that comes in your way and be a career explorer.
My summer bucket list got tossed out the window but much more than that, I have grown wise with summer and growing wiser with summer is really fun and sweet.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Noyingbeni T. Erui, Meren and Kvulo Lorin.
For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org