Good Things Come to Those Who Hustle

Anne-Kathrin

8 years ago

Good Things Come to Those Who Hustle

I really didn’t intend to make a whole separate series out of my internship. It just so happened that I went through some major stages I think are worthwhile sharing, and I just wasn’t able to fit it all in one article without having to write a novel. But this one is going to be the last one, and then I will be done with this topic, I swear.

My first few weeks with CBS didn’t go so well for me. In fact, I was terrified in the beginning to actually go back after my disastrous (as I saw it) first day. I put so much pressure on myself, trying to perform like a pro when I only had been there for a couple days. This behavior affected my sleep, my eating habits, my workouts and my friends.

My friends were true angels in that situation, listening to me whining about possibly leaving the internship. They tried to lift me up in every possible way. I really am thankful they didn’t want to rip my head off after I always managed to turn the conversation to how unhappy I was in this position. I just didn’t feel I was suited for the it.

Until that one week my supervisor was sick and had to leave the office. That was my time to shine and to step up. At first, I was terrified when she announced that she had to go home because she wasn’t feeling well. I hated answering the phone, but now that was my responsibility. And what can I say; I was actually compatible to do it. It is really not rocket science to take phone calls and transfer them. After the first couple times I started to become more comfortable with it and started to lose my fear.

I also got to know my boss a little more during that time since I now had to work directly under here. We had some good conversations, and she told me how much she appreciated me being there. That really boosted my confidence, and I became ambitious to fulfill each of my tasks the best I could. I started thriving and believing in myself. I actually was capable of handling responsibilities in a gigantic corporation where you are confronted with deadlines and a high-pressure environment.

One day during that week, my boss let me accompany her while she was guiding a television crew around the lot. This was one of the first times when I saw the perks this job brought with it. It was fun to not be tied to the desk all day and just walk around and watch the crew film sets and interview talent such as late night host James Corden (love him, by the way). I happily stayed an hour past my off-time just to be around this environment and observe. I think I thanked my boss a gazillion times that she let me come with her.

When my supervisor got back, the relationship between us became better, too. I had a way more positive attitude, and it showed. From that moment on I knew I didn’t want to terminate the internship and saw it as a great experience and a way to enhance my resume. Of course there were moments when I hated my job, but that happens in my current position too. It is something everybody goes through from time to time, as long as the positives outweigh the negatives.

The highlight of my internship actually happened during my last week. It was the week of the LA Screenings, which are happening in May each year. It is an event where the major networks present their upcoming new summer/fall shows to interested buyers from all over the world. Working this event was a lot of fun, not only because the interns got to work with A-listers such as Katherine Heigl or Michael Weatherly. We also got to watch the pilots of the new shows. On top of that, we had an In-N- Out truck catering the event, which was definitely one of the best things ever.

Yeah, that week I realized how lucky I actually was despite all the difficulties I had in the beginning. And what can I say, when I had to say goodbye, I started crying. I knew I would miss the environment and the work. The only thing that I was looking forward to was to not sit in traffic anymore. Until I landed my current job, which is located in Culver City. But that is another story.