A Day in the Life of a NYC Intern
10 GIFs that perfectly capture the classic intern lifestyle.
by JANE SCHUTTE ★ JULY 10, 2018
It’s Monday morning. You wake up to the sound of your alarm clock that religiously goes off at 6:45 a.m. Your heart sinks a little bit because you just want to lie in bed forever. But after five minutes of snoozing, you finally pull yourself together to start another week as a summer intern in NYC.
Transitioning from being a confident UGirl at Cuse to being an inexperienced, young intern will not be a breeze, but we’re all in this together! Although every internship is different, here are 10 relatable moments that capture the classic intern lifestyle we all know too well.
1. The Subway
You start your day by commuting on the subway. As you struggle to get through the turnstile because there’s no more money left on your metrocard, you awkwardly turn back around, maneuver your way through the crowd, and refill your card.
2. The commute
Feel like you stick out like a sore thumb? Yeah, us too. Squished between dozens of random New Yorkers, you firmly plant your feet into the floor. You hold onto the dirty silver pole for dear life, trying not to fall from the sporadic movements of the subway. Although the commute is hot and sticky, at the end of the day, you are happy to be piled in there. Being surrounded by full-fledged adults gives you a taste of what it feels like to be in the real world.
3. Fueling the coffee addiction
Before you get to your building you obviously HAVE to get coffee. Even if your internship is unpaid, you still decide to get a fancy Starbucks drink because, hey, you deserve it. How else would you mentally and physically get through the work day?
4. The first day
Unlike the first day at Cuse, on the first day of your internship, you may not see any familiar faces. In an attempt to make a great first impression, you sport a giant smile and try to be your sweetest, friendliest self. You need to make friends who you can confide in when you are confused and have questions. Plus, sometimes the people you meet on the first couple of days end up being lifelong friends.
5. The social media fix
Sometimes you can get really bored waiting around for an assignment. So, whenever your boss looks away, you immediately check your phone to catch up on your friends’ latest poolside Instagram and Snapchat stories, living vicariously through them.
6. Intern bonding
You are finally becoming friends with your fellow interns. Whether you bond over the funny office dynamics or the odd habits of your coworkers, it feels nice to have a friend in the office. And every time your boss does something strange, you and your closest intern friend even make prolonged eye contact before bursting into silent laughter.
7. Lunch time!
Let's face it. ever since you got to the office at 9 a.m., you’ve been thinking about lunch. You have strategically planned your lunch break, so it perfectly breaks up the middle of your day. And if you are anything like us, you’ve already scoped out the healthiest, trendiest food options near your office.
8. The intern-frenemy
You have realized that most of the other interns and coworkers are pretty cool. Maybe you have even made plans to hang out with some of them outside of work. But unfortunately, there is always going to be that one person who totally gets on your nerves. Just remember, you only have to deal with him or her for the summer, so it’s important to put your best professional foot forward.
9. Closing time
The clock strikes 5 p.m. You are all packed up and super ready to slip out of the office! After a long day at work, you quickly text your Cuse girlfriends to see who’s around to meet up for happy hour.
10. Sidewalk strut
On the commute back, you listen to your newly curated summer playlist and suddenly feel like you are actually going to make it in this world. Before you know it, it’s time to do it all over again tomorrow!
Whether you are a savvy New York native or a lost suburban commuter, you are constantly trying to find your way around the Big Apple. From dealing with coworkers for the first time to figuring out the best restaurants near your office, there is a lot of uncharted territory when it comes to internships based in NYC. But don't sweat it! By the end of the summer, you will be an absolute pro at navigating the subway, and will have completely mastered the art of jaywalking.