I have already gathered a patchwork of wonderful memories from this internship and I still have three months of content left to add to it. Last night, I returned home for a two day stay in The Royal Foundation of St Katherine’s. I was there to celebrate something that meant a lot to everybody involved. I am part of the ‘Time to Shine’ internship scheme funded by the Rank Foundation. The programme offers people the chance to get their foot in the door in the world of work. Graduates in particular, are all too familiar with the face of rejection when searching for that dream job. Time to Shine gave me the opportunity to finally apply my degree of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics to a workplace. As a marketing and research assistant at TrueTube, I have tried my best to put everything I have into the role.
Stepping out of my comfort zone has certainly been a key part of scheme, but has led to experiences I wouldn't change for the world. If you had said to me a year ago I would be sailing around the UK, presenting at the University of Oxford, attending award ceremonies at the Houses of Parliament and even singing the introduction theme song to an animation, I wouldn't have believed you. Primarily, I wouldn't have thought the variety of these different activities would be available under one job description. Secondly, I would have completely lacked the confidence. I remember the very first school I visited had only about fifteen people in the audience. I could hardly sleep the night before, and was a complete bundle of nerves on my way to the classroom when it was time to do my presentation. Feeling sick to my stomach, I just went for it and ended up doing exactly what I had planned. No slip ups, no stuttering and good feedback at the end. I just took the plunge. Since then, I have tried to apply the same attitude to all the daunting opportunities this internship has thrown at me. Daunting, but exciting. Every single time, finding the courage to do things I never thought I would do, has paid off. At the Royal Foundation of St Katherine’s Dock, I presented my ‘Time to Shine’ story in front of an audience which would have terrified me nine months ago. I was still nervous this time round, but I knew I was capable of doing a good job of it – and I did. I do not yet know what the future holds in store for me. Wherever fate takes me, I know the wonderful memories of this internship will pave the way for me.
Stepping out of my comfort zone has certainly been a key part of scheme, but has led to experiences I wouldn't change for the world. If you had said to me a year ago I would be sailing around the UK, presenting at the University of Oxford, attending award ceremonies at the Houses of Parliament and even singing the introduction theme song to an animation, I wouldn't have believed you. Primarily, I wouldn't have thought the variety of these different activities would be available under one job description. Secondly, I would have completely lacked the confidence. I remember the very first school I visited had only about fifteen people in the audience. I could hardly sleep the night before, and was a complete bundle of nerves on my way to the classroom when it was time to do my presentation. Feeling sick to my stomach, I just went for it and ended up doing exactly what I had planned. No slip ups, no stuttering and good feedback at the end. I just took the plunge. Since then, I have tried to apply the same attitude to all the daunting opportunities this internship has thrown at me. Daunting, but exciting. Every single time, finding the courage to do things I never thought I would do, has paid off. At the Royal Foundation of St Katherine’s Dock, I presented my ‘Time to Shine’ story in front of an audience which would have terrified me nine months ago. I was still nervous this time round, but I knew I was capable of doing a good job of it – and I did. I do not yet know what the future holds in store for me. Wherever fate takes me, I know the wonderful memories of this internship will pave the way for me.