I’m an Intern

Warning: #personal post ahead

Yesterday was an amazing day. It didn’t top August 11, 2007 – the day I graduated college, but it does come in second for the day I felt the most accomplished.

Remember that internship I had been talking about? Well,

That’s right y’all! I interviewed yesterday and found out during the interview that I was selected as the intern! I will be interning for Robin Plotkin, RD, LD this summer. Some of the things I’ll be doing is: writing blog posts, organizing her blog redesign, writing new recipes, scouting out new ingredients/products, moderating her social media accounts, assisting her with her work for clients, attending meetings, networking and more.

I’m so excited. I’m actually beyond excited and kind of in this parallel universe of awe. There were so many people – friends, family, professors – that told me I was going to be selected for the internship, but I could never really believe them. Of course I thought I was a really great candidate and my future business plans align with hers, but I could never be positive I would be selected. Even after I discovered one of my professors writing a recommendation for me had worked with her in the past, I still wasn’t 100% sure that it would matter.

The fact is, I was selected for this internship because everything I’m doing now, plus everything I’ve done in the past. Growing up among a family of entrepreneurs was crucial. Every day that I went to class in business school mattered. Every day of the three years I built spreadsheets and ran financial analysis made a difference. Deciding to go back to school and having hog wild dreams about my future career plans played a role in her decision.

Days like yesterday remind me that no matter what has happened to me in my life, it’s all been for a reason and it’s all played a role in where I will be in the future. I can be troubled by being a 25 year old in undergraduate classes again. I can be bothered by probably being 28 before I start working full time again. But I know that I will get there eventually and things will work in my favor. I know I will be able to accomplish my ridiculously ambitious career aspirations.

It may not seem like such a big deal to some of you that I have an internship now. It may seem just “great” that I have earned this fabulous opportunity, but to me it’s beyond great. To me this internship is a sign that I’m on the right path, I will be successful and I have made the ultimate right choice in leaving my career in corporate America to return to school.

I have never spoke about this on the blog – but I lost much more than just a paycheck when I decided to return to school and then subsequently leave my full time job behind. Unfortunately I lost some really important people in my life that I loved so much because they don’t agree with my decision.  Relationships have forever been altered since the day I announced I was changing careers. I was told I would never be successful, I was making a huge mistake, I would be poor the rest of my life, my unhappiness doesn’t matter because no one is truly happy. I was told I’ll regret my decision and wish I stayed in business. I was told to go back to selling real estate if I’m unhappy as a financial analyst because that’s the most successful career for me. I have had vacation spots and the opportunities to visit friends taken away because I can’t bring myself to return to a place that was once my home.

Since this has happened to me, I’ve always questioned my decision somewhere, somehow each day. I have wondered if they were right. I have wondered if this decision was worth the losses I’ve suffered. Most days I overcome these feelings and realize how happy I truly am right now, but some days ultimately these feelings overcome me and I feel like I’ve failed myself. These losses tainted my feels about this internship and whether I would be “worthy” of this amazing opportunity.

Despite these feelings, I was proven yesterday that my life’s path was worth it because I have been rewarded with a way to earn success as a RD in the future. Again, I am taking steps that will shape the way my future career is going to unfold. This internship is just another one of the steps that will make my next most accomplished day, but at least I’ll be happy during this step.