The Sky’s the Limit
On The Way to Another Dream Internship
In a blue and white checkered blouse and black trousers, Adaobi took a picture of her holding a book.
It was “In Defense of a Liberal Education ” by Fareed Zakaria.
“Have you taken the picture?” she said smiling.
“Yes, I’ve taken it,” said Aadrika.
It was around 5:20 pm and then Adaobi closed her laptop and packed her bags as they both walked out of the office and onto the elevator.
As they exited the building, Adaobi and Aadrika went to a restaurant to get dumplings and rice as they ate and chatted.
“I can’t believe the summer is coming to an end,” said Adaobi.
“Yes, it went by so quickly,” said Aadrika.
“I’m going to miss you,” said Adaobi.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here,” said Aadrika.
Adaobi asked Aadrika about her plans after the internship and she told her that she plans to stay in New York and work at a start-up.
“That’s great and I’m so happy for you,” said Adaobi.
“Me too,” said Aadrika.
Adaobi hugged Aadrika as they said their goodbyes and got on the train station.
Then, they went on their separate ways as Adaobi took the E-train back to Queens.
While sitting on the train on her ride home, Adaobi felt proud of herself.
She just completed a summer internship with a prominent publishing house: W.W. Norton & Company and as an English Major, it was her dream to be able to intern at a publishing house and experience that part of the industry.
With the marketing internship under her belt, she set her sights on securing another internship for her last semester in college.
As part of her strategy to get a job right after graduation, Adaobi made sure to attend as many networking events as possible.
Then, there was a conference for creatives in the city and so she was there.
She showed up bright and early on a Saturday morning at around 8:30 am in a white blazer and black trousers and she had her folder with her resumes inside.
Then, she spoke with confidence to different people as she handed out her business card and exchanged numbers.
After, the following day, she sent out an email to a contact.
In the email, it read:
Hello Katherine,
I hope you’re doing great. I contacted Margaret about internship opportunities in the public relations department at CNN and she sent me your email.
I’m currently a senior in college with a major in English and minors in Journalism and Women’s Studies. I’ve had internship opportunities in roles such as editorial for an online magazine, media/press for a non-profit, marketing for a video distribution service and most recently, digital marketing for a publishing house.
I’m very interested in the possibility of interning in the public relations department at CNN. I’ve attached a document containing my resume and cover letter to this email. I hope we can be in touch.
Much to Adaobi’s surprise, her email was responded to:
Thank you for reaching out to us.
I have not yet started the process of interviewing candidates for our fall intern positions but we will make sure to add your resume to our list.
I will recommend that you apply to other positions on our website as all candidates will need to do so in order to be considered.
After reading the email, Adaobi sent in the application immediately on the site.
Then she crossed her fingers and did a sign of the cross while she hit the send button.
Two days later, Adaobi opened her Yahoo and got another email.
My name is Carol Myla and I work in the Public Relations department at CNN.
I received your resume expressing interest in our fall internship position located in our New York office and I would like to speak with you further about this opportunity.
Please let me know if you are available to speak on Thursday, July 30th, and if so, between what times?
Thank you for your interest and I look forward to our conversation.
After reading the email, Adaobi got up and swung her hands and waist from left to right.
“Yayyyyyyy!” she screamed in her home in Queens as she did her happy dance.
Then, she responded to the email that she’d be available to speak on the phone at around 2:30 pm.
The phone interview discussion went great as Aadobi and Carol discussed what she studied and her experience.
Carol then told her that they would set up an in-person interview.
After, she sent her an email that the interview would take place at 10 am on a Monday Morning at CNN studios at 10 Columbus Circle.
Adaobi was thrilled as she read the email and confirmed that she would attend the interview.
As she hit the send button, all her dreams felt possible.
The sky was the limit and she would get all she aspired for.
Adaobi was certain she would ace the interview as she had obtained all the other internships she applied for.
Then, during the weekend, Adaobi prepared and did her research on CNN.
She was ready to discuss why she wanted to intern there.
She was ready to discuss why CNN was her go-to channel for Global News.
She was ready to discuss her favourite show which was African Voices and she was ready to discuss her favourite anchors such as Zain Asher, Isha Sesay and Christiane Amanpour.
Adaobi was also ready to discuss how her journalism minor related to her internship at the communications department.
How she contributed articles as a campus journalist.
Then, on a Sunday evening, she picked out her outfit: a red blazer, white blouse and black trousers with a mid-size black heel and before she went to bed, she got a text message from Aadrika and it read:
“I wish you so much luck! Call me after and tell me how great the interview went!”
Adaobi smiled as she read the text and went off to sleep.
It was Monday morning and Adaobi was up at 7 am for her 10 am interview.
She prayed and she continued to prepare her resume and her writing samples.
Then, at around 8:30 am, she decided she would leave the house for the interview.
She got to the train station at around 9 am and she sat down with a smile on her face.
She took the train heading to the World Trade Centre from the E train in Jamaica Center.
When she got on the train, it was around 9:20 am.
Adaobi stood waiting as she was just three stops away until she would get off at 7th Avenue to take the D train going towards Norwood, 205th Street and then the announcer said: “I’m sorry for the inconvenience but there’s a delay.”
Adaobi was frustrated while she waited as she looked at her watch and it was already 9:40 am.
“Should I send an email?” she thought.
She decided not to.
She decided that once she arrived, she would explain herself to Carol.
It was 10:05 am and Adobi got off the E train, walked to 7th Avenue and got the D train to Columbus Circle.
Once she arrived at Columbus Circle, it was a two-minute walk and so she ran to the studio and took the elevator up to the 5th floor.
Adaobi wiped the sweat off her face and Carol came to meet her at the reception.
“You’re late,” Carol said.
“I know. I’m sorry. There was a delay,” said Adaobi.
“You didn’t send an email,” said Carol.
‘I know. I’m sorry.” said Adaobi.
“The interview is over. You will not be considered for this internship role anymore” said Carol.
Carol walked back into her office and Adaobi exited the building with the folder containing her resumes in her hands.
She walked into the train station and tried to compose herself as she sat down, fighting back tears that would eventually flow.
“I was supposed to ace that interview,” she thought as she looked at the train stops.
Adaobi let out a big sigh of disappointment as she closed her eyes and thought back to a moment when she gave the salutatory speech at her high school graduation.
“As I stand up here looking at my classmates and my friends, I know that your future is bright. I know that years from now, you will be the most successful doctors, writers, diplomats, engineers. Some people will receive awards for the best director. Others might be future artists, businessmen, governors or even presidents. The sky is the limit if we all remember to never stop chasing the dream. To not let our failures define us. Before I go, I just want to repeat this beautiful line. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
Adaobi opened her eyes and the announcer said they were at their last stop.
She got up, picked up her folder with her resumes and then trashed it on her way out.
She walked out of the train and found a group cab where the irritated driver said: “Get in, Get in” and so she entered the cab that reeked of smoke as she was on her way back home.
