Internships are usually meant to reveal a young student what they would like to do, and certainly what they wouldn’t like to do, in their future. Perhaps a nine-to-five is not for them; creativity should be a must component; or simply having the chance to abuse a (good) coffee machine. But, this is not my first time at the rodeo, and I’ve known exactly what I want and what I do not want from my future job.
So how did this internship at IAS gave me any sort of valuable lessons or directions, aside teaching me extremely handy and useful skills? Well, let’s start first from what IAS is, and how my time there has helped me remind myself what my future goals are.
The Institute for Advanced Study, or simply IAS, is an affiliate department of the University of Amsterdam that fosters ‘slow science’ and invites local and international researchers from various disciplines to collaborate and network with other researchers on complex worldwide problems. Climate change, criminalization, social networks, polarization, inequalities. You name them, and you shall find someone at IAS working on that scientific issue. In short, IAS is the perfect cave for young and senior scientists to ‘lay back’ and focus on what actually tickle their intellect.
All this talk about science, it is actually what pushed me in the first place in applying for the position of communication intern at IAS. Afterall, I do have a (completed) bachelor’s degree in Physics and Astronomy. This place was meant for me. And I got it.
Throughout my time at IAS, I did everything that you can imagine a communication intern would do: creating written content, taking videos and photos, updating/curating the website, and more! Probably what I loved most (and probably what I dreaded the most) was the chance to interview here and there some of the researchers, and then write article pieces about it. Why this ‘odi et amo’ situation? Because I genuine love talking to people and getting to know their story, but also I am aware I am not the best professional writer out there. As you can see, it was a bit of a challenge, which does not hurt. Also, I always want to perform at my best, especially when I had a big challenge like this one.
But you see, it’s these kind of challenges that awaken something in me; or rather, re-awaken. The joy of learning about the world. The universe. The nature of things around us. Being at IAS for almost a year granted me the chance to relive these thoughts, that, to some extent, slumbered in between never-ending assignments and dull exams. Seeing what these scientists would study about, how their passion exuded every time they would talk about it, it reminded me of my love and devotion for science. A devotion that I want to turn into something that shortens the gap between those crazy people wearing lab coats and the other crazy people who are still in doubt if the Earth is flat or not. Certainly not an easy job. But everyone needs their niche mission (im)possible kind of thing.
My internship at IAS was undoubtedly valuable and special. But it gave me what probably most seek: a clear path into the future of what you want to do and who you want to become. Obviously, it’s all up in the air and nothing is set in stone (except that the Earth is not flat), and many things can still change the course of my career-life. Nonetheless, this internship handed me a massive boost of motivation in pursuing my goals, re-energizing my spirit sort to speak. Not to mention I have immensely broaden my professional network, have worked with an amazing team, and have had such great supervisor.
So, final words of wisdom: internships are just more than a mere academic compulsory component. They can give you lots of practical opportunities, they can show you what future you don’t want to be in, and they can (sometimes) remind you of what you had already planned for yourself and go for it!