‘My answered internship prayer’

Heritage Kehinde of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG), writes about her first week of internship experience at Media Career Development Network.

For a long time now, I have anticipated my internship experience so much because it would be my first work experience as a student. I was looking forward to it not just because of the work experience but because of the knowledge, experience, and connection I would get at the end of it.

I specifically told God I wanted a place where I could be trained, I could learn, and build my career. I have listened to people, particularly students who have kick-started their career from their internship, and how it has given them direction and speed on their journey to success. Most people will tell you to go with an open mind, to learn, unlearn, and relearn, utilising the short experience for a lifetime impact.

But before I go on talking about my first-day experience, I’d like to share this with you on impact quickly. Something struck me this week. On Sunday I walked into one of the restaurants in my church, while I waited for a bus I could join to go home. As I waited, the television screen was connected to the ongoing service, which was the last service for the day.  The service was rounding up, then Bishop David Oyedepo said something that resounded in my heart. “ You choose between making money or making an impact, I chose impact.” Immediately I heard it, I  wrote it in my journal.

Fast forward to Monday, at my internship place, while sharing quotes posted by the organisation on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays? one of the quotes that was read to us was a piece of advice by Fisayo Soyombo; Founder, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), to young journalists: “In your early years in journalism, don’t chase money. Rather chase excellence and carve a name for yourself and impact lives through your story.” I remember smiling when I heard it and I said to myself, “This must be God passing a message to you”.

To my first day experience. Stepping into the Media Career Development Network (MCDN) on Monday I was uncertain of what was going to be the outcome of my stay, but after the orientation session, I was sure I wasn’t going to leave the place the same way I came. I arrived at the place very early at 8:30 am. Unknown to me, the office opens by 9:30 pm. I met four other Mass Communication interns as well, to my surprise, two of them were from UNILAG, one from Olabisi Onabanjo University, one from Nigeria Institute of Journalism, and the other from Redeemer’s University.

The orientation session kicked off with Miss Blessing Osemobor, the Communications Officer of the organisation, welcoming us and giving an overview of the mission of MCDN. The Executive Director, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, started his session with real-life inspiring stories that gave us a renewed perspective of what our internship stay was going to be about.

One major reason I was glad about my decision to settle for this organisation, despite knowing it is a non-profit organisation (which means that I won’t be paid), is the fact that the overall vision and mission of the organisation is hinged on these four things: training, mentoring, coaching, and research. I had to be true to myself at the start of my quest for a place, that where  I needed wasn’t a big company or a place where I could be paid but a place where I could learn, be trained, and be taught how to thrive in the industry.

Here is an outline of some of the activities and expectations as discussed in the orientation session

• We would be having practical classes on relevant media topics and skills
• The organisation would be partnering with other media organisations, to host interns for days or a week to learn or get an overview of other media sequences aside from journalism e.g Public relations firm, advertising, digital marketing, film production, broadcast stations e.t.c
• Opportunity to attend events.
• We would also be engaging in reading sessions
• Interns would be connected to different platforms to share their work.
• Relevant resources and opportunities would be shared with interns.

Aside from these highlighted activities, the big bang for me was when the coach who is also the Executive Director asked us to write down our expectations and courses we would like them to teach ahead of the next semester/session.

Before the end of the day, the atmosphere became less tense as we discussed trends in journalism, asked questions, met with other workers, and shared experiences as students.

My first-day internship experience made me mutter, “Thank you Jesus” multiple times and smile severally at the fact that this place was an answered prayer.