Internship at HT – Reetika from PGG College for Girls, Chandigarh
Reetika is an undergraduate student who invested her holidays in one of the most premier offices in the country. She cherished long hours at work, travelling far to get news, coffee is morning and discussions over single story. She is self-motivated and no one can bring down her spirits. Go ahead girl!!
It all began in March, as the flowers blossomed, my urge to do an internship also blossomed. I went to various newspaper houses in Chandigarh. But right one never came by, my instincts and spirit to work faded in hopelessness as most of the organizations would not accept me because I was a first year student. But then, one day I found myself in front of HT office in Sector-17, Chandigarh. My internet research had bought me to yet another unknown place. Pacing my steps and entering the office, I knew this would be exactly the place where I would love to invest one month of my life. I was introduced to Aarish sir, an immensely amicable person and a great mentor. Then I was interviewed and summoned to office two months later.
My first day was beyond all expectations. After the routine HT officials meeting, me and 4 other interns were asked to report in HT meeting room. After a short orientation, I was given a task to cover a lady cop, for the newly introduced page ‘Summer Samurais’. With utmost enthusiasm, I took my seat at the back of HT photographer’s motor bike and we made our way to the destination. That was the day I learnt about power of media, as the cop would remain reticent of her discomforts because of the fear that her reporting of such problems would enrage her superiors. Nevertheless, I managed a good report and very next day achieved a by line, which made my parents jump around the house with glee, I momentarily wondered if they were 45 or 15 years of age.
The next one month was a journey into complexities, wonders and adventures of corporate life. HT coffee machine became my best friend and plagiarism my worst enemy. A discussion with fellow interns upon current issues of importance during the morning meeting became more a passion than habit. Sometimes we were sent to a remote place and other times to a well-organized event. Being one the most reputed newspaper of the city, we were given entry to press conferences without id. Sometimes we would go with well learned reporters and at times alone, both of experiences were magnificent. After completing our assignment we would return to office with the intention of filing the story. Next day we would search the newspaper crazily to find if we had earned any byline.
Several times I was enchanted by act of prescience of the newspapermen. The work environment at HT was very comfortable. We were fondly referred by the senior officials as ‘kids’. All ‘elders’ as we fondly referred them, were always willing to extend support and advice at all the required times of ambiguity and obscurity. The peons at HT were bound by entrenched protocol of serving timely coffee to everyone. Gradually the days passed by, from Kajehri village to Panjab University to DHE office of sector-19 to rock garden, I had the privilege to travel the length and breadth of city. As I had travel back to my home in Patiala, it would often mean returning back home at night. My mother would often complain of my busy schedule during summer vacations as well but all of her complaints would vanish when she would read my name in newspaper. The journey was beautiful and I never wanted it to end. But then this nostalgic feeling has always surrounded me during end of a particular phase of life. Hence making the promise with almost everyone of staying in touch I bid a goodbye, remembering a few lines by Robert Frost as I always have during such situations-
”The woods are lovely dark and deep but I promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep”.
If Reetika’s experience motivates you, you can check the latest internships in Chandigarh and latest Media internships.
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