Anyone missed me? I figured a summer update was in need even though this blog is not currently sponsored by Admissions anymore.
School is out, and summer is in. After about two weeks of languishing, I started my internship at Delphi Corp, which is very different and very interesting. Admittedly, I wake up earlier than I did at school (I start at 8 in the morning) and I end later. In school, all the “work” we do is purely academic. Academics become all-consuming; all my energy and time is spent on researching and writing papers or studying. I forgot that “real life” isn’t like college: hours melding together in front of the computer screen, trying to exceed the professor’s expectations about an esoteric academic topic. (You form expectations of yourself when you see the meticulous 100 page papers of upperclassmen honors students.) Thankfully, I’ve suspended that for the summer and the pressure has decreased.
“Real world” is more about collaboration of colleagues and a working through series of tasks. Ultimately it can culminate into a paper or a product design, etc. The deadlines are stringent, but there aren’t other countless obligations vying for your attention. It’s summer. At the end of the day, I can go home and spend time with friends instead of doing homework or going to meetings. The first day, I told my mentor that I could finish the report over the weekend. She laughed at me and said she didn’t want me to do work outside of the office. It was pleasantly bewildering albeit slightly embarrassing.
I’ve also finally integrated myself back into mainstream pop culture, which includes shopping, watching TV and movies, and reading for pleasure! I remember that my hall-mates last year created a list of books that they wanted to read over the summer. While I hadn’t thought about it extensively (need to finish Lolita), I discovered an array of new books that have come out, including A Thousand Splendid Suns, the sequel to The Kite Runner. I’m back to being a “normal” kid. But one difference is that I pay more attention that small details that I used to simply accept. My mom’s kind of annoyed that I keep trying to engage in her arguments or discussions about things I read in the news, or dissect the literary aspects of movies. But for the most part, I’m trying to let my brain idle. It’s summer.
