It's All About Aramis

I am a college sophomore currently interning for the Legislative Gazette, a political paper in Albany, NY, that requires attendance at various press conferences, making intimidating phone calls, and non-stop trips to the lavatory due to an overload of caffeine.

College students are continuously encouraged to intern sometime during their college career, and as one of those students, I took it upon myself to apply for a couple. Now, every time I mention that I’m interning in my second year, people usually make reference to how early I started. That’s when I’m like “WTF!” I’ve been pushed into interning and now that I am actually participating in one people seem to have this problem with it. Even my adviser said that I was starting a little early, but of course he mentioned it the week before I was on my way to Albany.

In all honesty, I’m enjoying this. I get to live on my own (kind of - I have three female house mates), I don’t have classes (well …I have this one PolySci class every Monday morning, for an hour), and I get to party all the time! Okay, so not all the time since I’m usually tired from working, but it’s cool. This opportunity is one that I’m truly grateful for and the experience will help in the long run. There are so many new things I get to add to my résumé already, and it has only been a month.

The first day here, me and five other interns had to do the one thing that all new people dread. We had to introduce ourselves. Two editors, a.k.a. the bosses, said that six interns is smaller than most classes they’ve had yet. Four of them are from UAlbany, one from SUNY Purchase, and then there’s me … SUNY New Paltz. The editors also attended New Paltz, but that hasn’t gotten me any cool points. (I get those on my own :}).

I’d like to say that my writing has improved but journalists always think their writing is wonderful, until their work is handed in to a “know-it-all” editor. I’m not ripping on my bosses or anything, because these guys are actually cool. Plus, they always make this joke about not being “real” editors. One usually says “If I was a real editor, I’d be screaming at you right now.” Fortunately, he hasn’t directed that quote toward me yet.

The circle of six interns and two editors wasn’t big enough to allow time for me to take deep breaths before it was my turn but during my introduction, the main editor sort of finished it off for me.

Me: “Hi, I’m Aramis …”

Editor: “Grant? New Paltz?”

Me: “Yes”

Editor (with eyebrows scrunched as if he already knew my answer to his next question and wanted to confirm it): “How old are you?”

Me: “19”

Editor: “You’re the youngest intern we have ever had here.”

Well if that wasn’t enough to get me going, I don’t know what was! I was so excited I told all my friends (doing that little boastful thing we all do when making something out of nothing) and of course I told my parents. Boy, were they proud of their little girl.

That’s all done now. No one really cares about my age although I do get made fun of for “technically” being five because I was born on February 29, which by-the-way is actually on the calendar this year!

Aramis is currently interning for the Legislative Gazette. This is her first time in Albany. She also works for a shoe store and adores the discount. Her favorite color is purple; lucky number is 18; likes the way the word "forensic" rolls off the tongue; and LOVES to eat and laugh.