Facing Grendel: The Benefits of my Internship

For those of you that don't know, I'm working 20 hours a week as an intern for Population Research Institute. So far it isn't the most thrilling of jobs, in fact I'm sort of a 'menial tasks specialist.' However, after the first couple days of dragging my feet and wishing I'd just waited another year to get a 'real job,' I've come to realize that this job is the best thing that could have happened to me this summer because it is the gateway to my learning so many things. So, with a few anecdotes along the way, I will now elucidate on what I am learning as an intern, starting with the more mundane, boring lessons.

1. Systemization.
I don't think that's even a word, but my usual way of rambling through a task in whatever way I feel like does not work on excel spreadsheets. I find myself faced with 37,000 petition signers to peruse, eliminating duplicates and putting international names on another list. This takes SKILLZ, people. Handling a massive job with a minimum amount of keystrokes and cursor movement has become my latest hobby absolutely-necessary-for-my-salvation-and-sanity-occupation. Whether or not I work in development in the future, skills like that can't be completely useless, can they?

2. Multitasking
Of course, I got a head-start on this one during the school year, but my work at the office does not require long-term retention of zip codes and email addresses. Hence I can focus on the conversation outside the door (creeper status: achieved) or the lecture coming through my headphones with my ears while using purely visual effort on the computer screen in front of me.

3. Greek History.
Remember what I said about multitasking? I found this absolutely amazing Greek History course from Yale free on youtube! I highly recommend it to anyone with time on their hands or with an interest in classics! The professor, Donald Kagan, presents ancient Greek history in an engaging and professional manner, bringing in literary and archeological evidence and various conflicting view for a well-rounded series of lectures. What could be more fantastic to listen to while working?

Oh wait, I'm the only person in the world who would listen to Greek History for fun.

4. Office camaraderie
Did I mention I've never worked in an office with other people before? The idea of coworkers is still somewhat new to me, but luckily I've got some of the best! That means coffee and donuts and baseball games. Yes, the best.

5. Housewifely skills.
Not all my work is on the computer--I also wash the dishes and vacuum, on occasion. More on that below...

6. Facing my greatest fears.
As long as I can remember, I've been terrified of using vacuum cleaners. Unto this day, I always choose the traditional broom and dustpan or the updated version, the all-encompassing quick-to-get-filthy Swiffer.
Then, as I asked for my marching orders, I heard the dreaded words:

'Why don't you pick a random room and vacuum it!'

So, after a kindly coworker showed me the whereabouts of the aforementioned monster (ironically attired in the same colors as I was wearing, blue and black--my arch-nemesis, to be sure!), I faced Grendel. Like Beowulf, I had no useful weapons (such as knowing how to turn the !@#$ thing on). I unraveled a lot of useless cord that got in the way for the next 15 minutes and stared nervously at the big red 'POWER' button. Of course, it didn't bestow world domination upon me, it just started up an awful noise. But Grendel had lost his arm, and fled in ignominious defeat.
...Grendel's Mother was the lever that allowed me to tilt the handle of the monster. That necessitated my magic sword.

7. That I am the last hope for Hawaiian Independence. And Awesome.
Or so my coworkers tell me.

With all these excellent life lessons in mind, I highly encourage anyone and everyone to pick up a job for the summer...because you probably need the money ;) And I assure you, however boring and annoying your job may seem, you may yet have a chance to defeat Grendel while you're at it!

All the best,
~Tullia :)