Would you work for free? Some internships are required and unpaid

April is drawing to a close and the school year is nearly over. Seniors are about to graduate and leave behind them their college lives and (hopefully) habits. Unless continuing on to grad school, there will be no more classes, no early morning exams, and no night classes that require a keg of coffee to stay awake through. Also on the “Never Again” list is the dreaded internship.

When I first heard about college internships, I was so excited to have the opportunity to go out in the real world and take a shot at a real life job. It seemed exciting to have the chance to work for the Cleveland Indians, Disney World, or even local businesses. I still cannot wait to (hopefully) find an internship I love. There is just one problem when it comes to these programs: no pay.

Let’s face it, the majority of us are poor college students and REALLY hate to do anything extra (unless there is a reward). Unfortunately, internships are required and most are not paid. When it comes right down to it, college students are being forced to perform free labor. Filing papers, cleaning up the office, and perform not-so-glamorous acts are all too familiar with these internships.

I know the seniors have done their time and suffered (and probably have some horror stories), but I would like to remain positive. I have three more years of college to “look forward to” and I know that one day I will have to conquer the internship. I am going to hold onto my hope of working in Disney or having a fabulous experience.

Seniors, I envy you. Go get a job and make some money. As for the rest of us, try to find some work over the summer because we are still stuck in the dorms and classrooms with the looming pay-less internship sitting between us and graduation.
 

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