Colorful Character

In a sea of black suits, my supervisor stands out in the office as a bright, sparkly, flamboyant character with a personality to match! When I first arrived at my internship, I was dazed and confused as interns on their first day on the job usually are. When someone asked me who my supervisor was, they chuckled at my response. “She’s not in yet, but don’t worry, you won’t be able to miss her. She is quite a colorful character.” He was right.

When my supervisor swept in, I felt a wash of comfort and relief at the warmth she radiated. She wore a rainbow peasant skirt, a bright purple sweater, a green and aqua silk scarf, flashy beaded earrings, and a giant smile. My day began by her sitting me down, and chatting about how I chose to intern with them, what I hoped to learn from my internship experience, and what my ultimate career goals might be. After explaining to her a bit about my background, she began peppering with questions about my safety- Where was I living? Was I sure I felt comfortable walking by myself? What was my roommate’s emergency contact information in case I didn’t show up for work? In fact, could I please give her my mom’s contact information so she could jet her a quick note about how I would be taken care of and looked after in this new, big city? I immediately felt cared for, fussed over, and appreciated.

The particular department that I was assigned to was not exactly what I had in mind when I applied for an internship with the organization. However, when my supervisor heard about my interests and desires, she immediately set up appointments for me to meet with key people in the areas that I am passionate about, and has been more than willing to grant me time off from my usual tasks in order to participate in activities with other departments. Her goal, she told me, was to ensure that I had the very best, well-rounded internship experience that I possibly could. Since I am seriously considering pursuing a career with this particular agency, she has given me all sorts of tips, resources, and insider information to consider.

My tasks and responsibilities are rather unique for an intern. One of the agency’s employees must leave for two months as part of a leadership class, and I was brought on board to replace her. There will be no paper pushing, senseless photocopying, or boring data entry for me, as is customary for most interns. I will be replacing an actual paid, highly trained, professional employee. I am so nervous. While I am certainly intimidated about the great responsibilities that have now fallen into my lap, I am also extremely excited. I have the opportunity to actually make a difference in my organization, and I have the chance to actually contribute something worthwhile rather than merely being an inconvenient burden.

When I walk into my office, I hope to be like my supervisor. Not so much in that I dress in loud, flashy clothing (although that could be fun!), but rather that when I walk in, my positive attitude and amusing personality might brighten up the room. I hope that someday, when someone must introduce me, they will say, “O, you won’t be able to miss her. She is a very colorful character.”