Life takes you everywhere..!! Internship does too..!!

8kmph nonstop for a period of 45days would lead you to a distance that I covered during my Summer Internship. Well, not at all being close to a travel agency, my company (mentor) asked me to work on a primary and secondary research project (voted unanimously by all interns as the best project) which required me to travel 8 states, 26cities/towns/villages during that period.

Having had some contrasting journeys like travelling 800km in less than 2 hrs and 80km in 4hrs, I experienced every possible mode of transport ever invented in human history. The story lies beyond travelling. I had to take feeds from some amazing people ranging from labourer who would not understand anything beyond 'Anna' to people of as high repute as the MD of a leading company in India. This also reminds me of how I used to get baffled between 'bhaiya' , 'anna' , 'dada' , 'paaji' and 'veerji'. Which one to use where and when?

'Human is the most adaptable of all species’: Happy realization.

Well, research is not a cakewalk too. ‘Why should I tell you my company’s turnover?’[/i] the most common cross question I faced initially. But well, people find it equally pleasing to tell you how big they are. Here lies the solution. Ask them 3 questions they happily answer and EUREKA..!! EUREKA..!! Simple Mathematics, Turnover is close to:

Total Production Capacity * %capacity utilised * avg. market price of product

(Excuse the small assumptions finance guys)

That was about the field work. The office experience will never be less memorable. Who gets to share a smoke with the CEO on the 2nd day of his job? No guys, the company wasn't a start-up. In fact, it will put your general knowledge acumen to test. How come you didn’t know of one of the top trading companies in world, the turnover of whose holding company exceeds the GDP of more than two-third number of countries in the world.

Yes, office experience. Thanks to the Ex and Next COO of the company, I get to work in his vacant office. There were instances when I used to forget that I was a Summer Intern. Yes, ranging from instant flight bookings, 3-star stay, office desk, installed phone, advance expenditure, what all and what not, the comfort was beyond words of a summer intern.

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE again brings me to put down the opposite experiences that can only make you mentally numb if not handled well. Almost reaching half the boiling point temperature and there you are, amidst of the remotest part of the country where an internet is 10years in future, optimism. Forget, Volvo or other AC buses, a truck that could lift you for good purposes is like finding chilled beer in the desert.

Further, knowing that being a temporary employee you are being sought after for one of the most important project of the company will push you to work even in the shittiest place on the planet. That’s exaggeration at its minimum.

To sum up, summer internship can be the best professional experience one can have. The minute I started believing that internship is not a take and take (learning and stipend) process but a give and take (performance and experience) one, was the time I gave in my best for the project. Luckily, it came out pretty well and there was more than one person to be contended with it, the mentor and associates.

The first professional experience could have never been more fruitful and learning.

 

[debopriyo.bhattacharyya1]

Good one.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

v
This reflection offers a vibrant and adventurous account of a summer internship, characterized by extensive travel, unique fieldwork challenges, and an unexpectedly comfortable office environment. The author effectively conveys the excitement and intensity of the experience.

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Writing Style and Techniques​

• Engaging Opening and Hyperbole: The initial comparison of distance covered to "8kmph nonstop for a period of 45 days" immediately grabs attention and highlights the sheer scale of the travel involved. This effective use of hyperbole sets a dramatic and adventurous tone.
• Contrast for Impact: The narrative frequently uses contrast to emphasize experiences: "800km in less than 2 hrs and 80km in 4hrs," the comfort of the office versus the challenges of remote fieldwork, and the initial reluctance of respondents versus their eventual openness. This technique highlights the dynamic nature of the internship.
• Vivid Descriptions and Anecdotes: The text is rich with specific details and short anecdotes, such as the confusion between regional terms for addressing people ("bhaiya', 'anna', 'dada', 'paaji', and 'veerji'"), sharing a smoke with the CEO on the second day, and the detailed comforts of the office (flight bookings, 3-star stay, office desk, installed phone). These elements bring the story to life.
• Reflective Insights: The author pauses to share key realizations, such as "Human is the most adaptable of all species" and the "Happy realization" of the simple math for estimating turnover. These moments of introspection deepen the narrative beyond mere recounting of events.
• Intrigue and Challenge to Reader: The playful challenge about the company's general knowledge ("it will put your general knowledge acumen to test") adds an element of mystery and invites the reader to engage actively with the text.
• Problem-Solution Framing in Fieldwork: The section on "Why should I tell you my company’s turnover?" clearly presents a common research hurdle and then offers a clever, practical solution, demonstrating the intern's problem-solving skills.
• Emphasis on Comfort and Empowerment: The description of the lavish office amenities and being entrusted with "one of the most important project of the company" highlights an unusually empowering and comfortable internship experience, which contrasts with common intern narratives.
• Humor and Informal Language: Phrases like "EUREKA..!! EUREKA..!!," "shittiest place on the planet" (with immediate self-correction), and "finding chilled beer in the desert" inject humor and maintain a relatable, informal tone.
• Core Learning and Philosophy: The concluding paragraphs succinctly capture the intern's ultimate realization about the "give and take" nature of internships, emphasizing performance as key to experience. This provides a strong, professional takeaway.

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Overall Impression​

This internship reflection is highly engaging and memorable, largely due to its adventurous tone, vivid storytelling, and honest portrayal of both the glamorous and challenging aspects of the experience. The author's strong voice and ability to weave practical learnings with personal anecdotes make it a compelling read. It successfully conveys that a summer internship can be far more than just office work, offering unique opportunities for learning, adaptation, and significant professional contribution.