Praise Olowe, a graduate of Mass Communication from Joseph Ayo Babalola University recalls her internship days at The Nation Newspapers
Waking up every morning and thinking about going to work could be nerves -wracking. Worrying about virtually everything, from what to wear to work considering the day’s weather, to what the day holds. Combining the curiosity of what the day would look like, and the excitement knowing that the office is a veritable grab bag of personalities.
Within these few months of internship, I have encountered different kinds of personality. You can imagine me strolling down from the gate, only to meet ‘that fox’ that knows my name. I begin to think, have we had a discussion before? How did he know my name? Why did he call my name wearing such a big smile?. Anyway, I just say hello and walk pass. Now right in the office, is the ‘punctual wizard’! Somehow, miraculously he is always on time without a fail.
Trying to put things together, the ‘cool girl and guy’ walks in and of course, there is always something to talk about, something productive, ideas, gists etc. There is also that ‘pompous jerk’ who strolls into the office without greeting anyone or replying anyone “where is Mr Lekan?” OMG!!! Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question?. We just stumble upon people on the hallway who finds it very difficult to reply greetings.
There is that person, who is always on calls, talking to different people over the phone. Promising this and promising that! For heaven’s sake, can you just excuse yourself? this is an office environment.
Now I’m out, to get something to eat. Right there, I met this female intern. The next day, I decided to use the ATM, there she was again. I visited a friend at the newsroom and she was there. Truth is, she is always here and there running errands. I call her ‘The messager’. On a daily, there is always that ‘storyteller’, the talkative. There is always something to say, something to talk about Most times, we just pretend to listen. We are not even listening anymore, can you just stop!!.
Times without number, I have stumbled on a group of people in the toilet discussing. I begin to wonder if discussing In the toilet is the ‘new cool’. It is probably a place for assimilating and I don’t just know yet. Anyway, I call them the ‘Bathroom talker’. There is that one person who wants the AC on full blast when the weather is really cold. This is the same person who is always cold when the weather is hot and Sunny. You can never understand this person. I call her ‘the ice cube’.
Also, there is that person who doesn’t offer up a lot of information. He hardly talks, he gives expressions but rarely speaks except to say yes or no or probably give a nod. I call him ‘the overly shy guy’.
The joke never stops with the ‘Office jester’. Whether he is truly funny or not, we are his audience and we have to fake laugh just because he requires it from us. Anyways, funny or not, I call him the Office jester.
There is that guy, who is always ‘admiring’. You look good today! I love your shirt! What department are you? Can you see me after work! Can we hang out one of these days? Hello! I don’t have time!!!. I call him ‘the womanizer’
However, there is that really calm boss who has no problems. He gives no problem and he is always easy going. I call him the ‘nice boss’
You will agree with me that the day is never complete without the ‘Passive Aggressive boss’ who is never satisfied with whatever you do. He finds something wrong in everything. He is usually aggressive about virtually everything. I call him ‘the passive-aggressive boss’.
There is that one girl, that is ME!!!!
