I begin my future

Back before I graduated from a four-year university, I spent my last term completing senior projects, one of which involved learning all the skills employers need from college graduates in my field. . . Digital Media.

The courses I took in order to gain that degree were a toss of the coin -- either an extremely difficult and tedious subject that I will never apply to my future career (in other words, a "necessary" prerequisite for the classes I needed) or an extremely exciting subject that taught me everything I needed to know in one skill or computer program (or both).

The internship experience I gained from the Digital Media program is lacking. The first internship I was accepted into lasted exactly one month, and I was never allowed to do anything productive. The second one was not well organized. I was never given an adequate amount of time or instructions on my assignments. As a full-time college student, I had the right to time management. I should have been given a schedule based on my class schedule.

I think the concept of an "internship" has been thrown out the window for many employers. Companies that seek free labor or fully-trained, fully-experienced employees need to look elsewhere. Now, if they are truly seeking an intern, they are seeking an individual who has spent the last 4+ years with their free time consumed by tedious, infinite projects and needs to know how to apply the knowledge from these projects. These individuals need a demonstration on how a logo, brochure, magazine layout, and website are all designed. If they are like me, they need to be first redirected to a mentor who can teach them all the software and techniques that they were not taught in their college program. They also need time to learn. Forcing an intern to RUSH RUSH RUSH through a program that they are just learning (for any job project) is self-defeating. College gave them time to learn; the internship should be no different.

There is a difference between being fast-paced in computer programs/skills you have full experience with and ones you have barely used in your life. Nothing will ever be learned if the student must rush through the training. I know this first-hand from my first internship.

I was lucky enough to have a mentor during my last term in college. Unfortunately, I still have not learned EVERYTHING and need to hurry up and do so. Time is running short, and I need to have a career started by December 1.

Fortunately, I was hired as an intern for a friend's business as the Web and Graphic Designer of the company, soon to be the complete Web Developer. I am training myself in web programming during office hours, and as a true intern, I have this luxury.

I am also leaving myself open to any design opportunities. I am currently the Supervisor for a Business Student's financial project. I designed her logo and brochure cover, and I am available to review the work of her other designers at her discretion.

I will become fully educated in my field. I will become what these companies have been searching for.