Internship Memo
For HR:
Here I am typing out my personal internship memo on the eve of my last day of work. It’s pretty amazing how four months passed by just like that. It certainly felt like I’ve worked for a much longer time but yet at the same time, it felt somewhat short to be real. To say that this internship stint was life-changing would be an over-exaggeration but the experience definitely taught me a lot of things and opened up my perspective of the bigger world out there.
To be honest, this internship was not a first choice for me as I had originally applied to intern with the CC division but ended up being rejected (which I later found out from a casual chat with C was because she thought I was more geared towards marketing during the interview). Two weeks before school started and I had already gotten my timetable for the next semester, I emailed YS casually, asking if there was any marketing position open for internship then or the following year. To my surprise, ACD was looking for an intern. I had no prior knowledge of the division and its brands beforehand but seeing that the job scope looked interesting, I applied for the position. Just a few days before school started, I got the internship. Talk about the clichéd phrase blessing in disguise; I’m a firmer believer now that everything happens for a reason.
The last four months have been an interesting journey. When I came to work on the first day, no one expected my presence and G happened to be on leave. No doubts about first-day-of-work enthusiasm and optimism but I still felt awkward at not knowing my place in the division. The next day, G returned. He was preoccupied with his own share of work as well he briefed me about the projects and left them to my charge. These were not unexpected, during the interview he had managed my expectations, likening the company to that of an ocean where you either learn to swim or drown, a hyperbolized metaphor but one gets the message. Besides, I welcomed the autonomy, something I learnt to be important from my previous internship. Autonomy empowers and empowerment motivates. Hence, jobwise, I thoroughly enjoyed what I did and this internship strongly reinforced my interest in the marketing domain.
While the colleagues in the division were always busy with their work, they were also the most helpful whenever I needed any assistance, for which I am tremendously thankful for. It only took me to make the first move to ask for help and they would not hesitate to teach. Even though I was interning for the marketing aspect for two brands, there was something to learn from each and every one of them in the division; I learnt far beyond the scope, the brands and the tangibles. I learnt about the sales function in the division, I learnt about different business strategies for different brands and more importantly, I learnt about managing interpersonal relationships, an essential in our daily lives. I also enjoyed the interaction with the DAs, some of whom I got to know better during my surveying trips to the counters. Each of them had a unique personality and a different story to tell; it was certainly enjoyable talking to them.
I’m happy to be a part of the friendly ACD family where everyone gets along very well with one another. Events such as warehouse sales, DA event and Connect sessions never fail to bring the team together for some fun amidst the hard work. Beginning as strangers on the first day of work, I have grown to like everyone of them during the four months. Without the people, my experience working in the division would definitely not have been such a memorable one.
To sum it all, this internship gave me a very real perspective into the complexities of the corporate world. Even as textbooks have taught and professors have so often preached about, nothing is as real as experiencing it for one’s own. Indeed, change is the only constant in today’s world. The experience has made me clearer about what I want in the future and it’s time to be working towards that now.
Avatar
I confess I’m a laggard. Finally went to catch Avatar today after hearing so much raves about it from every single one who has watched it. When I first saw the trailer, I was not the least bit interested in catching the movie because for one, sci-fi aint my cup of tea and two, I thought the blue creatures were rather hideous-looking. Then the movie came out and after hearing such great reviews, I got intrigued and wanted to watch it for myself.
True enough, the movie lived up to its hype. The 3D effects were truly remarkable. One can hardly imagine the amount of hard work behind that two hours and forty minutes; it’s no wonder it took fifteen years for the movie to be completed. I grew to like the blue creatures, particularly the heroine, which I’d initially thought to be ugly.
The plot toyed with an interesting storyline, at the same time drawing parallels to what’s happening in the world today. The one thought that hit me deeply when I was watching Avatar (and other war movies such as Mulan and Red Cliff) was the lack of choice the soldiers on either allegiances had. You either kill or end up getting killed; there can only be one victorious side in war. If you happen to be born onto the wrong team, too bad for you. That’s just the insignificance of human lives.
If you haven’t watch the movie, please do catch it and watch it in 3D!
Sherlock Holmes
Given the high profile casting, I thought Sherlock Holmes could have been better. It was not bad but the story was pretty flat throughout. No twists, no climax; it got a tad boring towards the middle.
On a side note, do you know Safra cardmembers enjoy $2 off movie tickets? I’m not sure if it’s only valid for weekend tickets but it makes a good deal!
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