When I started my internship at A’DAM&Co., being able to get the panoramic view of my favourite city every day was something that I was extremely excited about. My office is on the 18th floor of Amsterdam’s iconic A’DAM Tower and the view and atmosphere of the place really does spark creativity. Usually, I come in to work, get a cup of tea and get my day started with a bunch of emails from members and potential clients who want to become a part of the A’DAM&Co. creative community. After that, I start working on the weekly newsletter where we update and remind our members about our upcoming events. After making the artwork that complements the writing for the newsletter, I go downstairs to grab some lunch. Now, the day that I am describing does seem like a very normal day at the workplace of a marketing and communications professional, but brace yourself, it gets really interesting. After lunch, as everyone often does, I feel quite tired and sleepy but I still manage to drag myself upstairs and take a seat by the window with a cup of tea in the hopes that the combination of sunlight and Earl Grey would wake me up a little. But what woke me up, was a loud thud right next to where I was sitting. I heard a scream and then a massive thud in the balcony. A middle aged man had landed from one of the floors above. He was groaning and crying hysterically as we all ran out to the balcony to help him. He had tried to commit suicide and did not know that there was a balcony that would save him. He had jumped off from the 21st floor and fallen to the 18th. So he was definitely hurt and had a couple broken bones, but everyone was merely happy to see him alive. There was a helicopter that escorted him to the hospital and we were later notified that he made it home to his family. One thing that scarred me the most was that he did not regret jumping off the building, instead he regretted not being able to take his own life. I never thought I would witness something like that on a normal day at my internship. This is what made me realise how uncertain life can be and it is important to value it. Even now when I go to work and walk out to the balcony for some air, I think about what drove that man into doing something so drastic to himself. I cannot see this internship as just another work experience that I can add to my CV. I see this internship as something that taught me the importance of life.
~ Shayree Majumder