A little over a month ago, I nervously entered the Office of Creative Services to begin my first day as an intern. It was 9 a.m.—an hour I had not experienced since high school—and I was priding myself on being able to function so early in the day. Like a real adult with a real job! (An hour later I realized that I was wearing my shirt backwards. I snuck off to the bathroom to fix it, but only after being introduced to everyone in the office.)

Anyway. I am really enjoying myself here. This is, after all, my first job that doesn’t involve serving either pizza or fried chicken. Also, I have two computer monitors at my desk, which makes it easier to pretend that I am extremely and irreplaceably important. Also making me feel important is my very own mailbox. I have never gotten any mail here, but each day I walk by it, hopeful. I refuse to be discouraged. I like to think that one day, when I least expect it, a piece of mail will be waiting for me. If not, maybe at least someone else’s mail will be delivered into my box accidentally, which would be equally exciting.

But I do more here than open multiple browser windows to spread out on my two monitors (just because I can) and think up reasons to pass by my mailbox six or seven times a day. I have spent most of my time working on the Founders Day booklet. I have been researching the distinguished teachers who will be honored with awards at Founders Day this year and writing page-long biographies of each. I have gotten to read about some amazing people, and I truly feel honored to get to do something for them—even in this very small and anonymous way.

I also enjoy going to biweekly meetings with all the other editors here to discuss current projects. We have also been known to debate our favorite punctuation marks, which is something that nobody outside of this office has ever wanted to do with me. For a while the editors were split evenly between the semicolon and the em dash, but slowly everyone but me has jumped to the em dash ship. I will loyally stand beside the semicolon until the day that I die, though, even if it costs me friends, family, and health. (Unless I eventually decide I like the em dash better. I didn’t even know what it was until a few weeks ago. And secretly, I’m still figuring out how to use it.)
I will continue to update about my internship throughout the spring. But right now, it’s time to go check my mailbox.

by Julia Boriss