I’ve spent the past two summers living in New York City as a full-time intern for two different fashion publications. My 60-hour work weeks consisted of afternoons bonding with the copy machine, countless trips to Starbucks and errands to every corner of Manhattan.

I was not paid for either internship, nor did I ever receive any kind of stipend. Except for the one school credit I got for my most recent internship, I’ve interned the past two summers for nothing. And it was all completely worth it.

All work and no pay may seem unfair, but the belief that the experience is worth it without a paycheck is true. I learned much more than I ever imagined I would, and the connections I made are worth more than any amount of money. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.

Thousands of college students interned this summer for nothing but the hope that the hard work and long hours they put in would hopefully gain them the kind of experience and connections to get a job after graduation.

Many disagree with this mindset, saying that companies are using the recession to their advantage by not paying interns, even if they have the means too. That may be the case, but in the end companies are actually creating more opportunities by not having paid interns.

My first internship was in an accessories closet with ten other interns. If the company had a paid intern policy, the spots available would have most definitely been reduced to two or three. In which case I’m sure I wouldn’t have been given the position, considering my fellow interns were all juniors and seniors with one or two internships already under their belts. But because interns did not have to be paid, my boss was able to give this inexperienced freshman (who forgot to bring her resume to the interview) her first big break.

In addition, many believe that the tasks given to interns have nothing to do with what they hope to become. This isn’t true. Yes, I was making copies, answering phone calls and grabbing coffee, but it was all about the environment in which I was doing it. I didn’t write a story or style a photoshoot, but I was able to see it happen. By watching and listening I grew to understand the editing process, I learned the planning it takes to create a successful photoshoot, and I saw how decisions are made, how photographs are picked, and how ideas are created and carried out. These are things I would have never been able to learn in a classroom.

I understand the debate and I acknowledge the work we do does deserve some type of compensation, but I’d rather be interning for nothing than not being able to intern at all.

Had I been paid minimum wage, I would have made about $8,700. But I traded up the paycheck for the satisfaction of a job well done. Living in New York City with no income was difficult, but I wouldn’t have traded my two internships for anything. Some people thought I was crazy, and most of my friends still don’t understand why I gave up beach houses and camping trips to spend my summers working for nothing. But for anyone who’s ever had an unpaid summer internship I’m sure you’ll agree: In the end, it’s all worth it.

Besides, I’ve never heard of a success story that didn’t begin with a little bit of struggle and a whole lot of grunt work.

Lauren Tousignant is a communications and rhetorical studies and writing major. She is the opinion editor at The Daily Orange, where her column appears occasionally. She can be reached at letousig@syr.edu.

 

Published on August 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm