High school senior Olivia Duell will be blogging all fall about her college admissions experience. In this post, she writes about her summer job as an intern for United Way:

When I got the call from the United Way requesting a time for an interview, I was shocked. I had applied without much hope because I’d been sending resumes and applications to every place of business in the area, with no luck. I’d really been counting on scoring a camp counselor job, until I received a lovely letter of rejection in the mail. Scouring Craigslist every night had made me even more depressed, as I didn’t qualify for the majority of everything posted there. So basically, my plans for a summer job had been reduced to naught.

Then my mom sent me a link for an internship position hosted by the United Way. What was unique about it was that it was tailored for juniors entering their senior year, so I had an advantage. While reading more about the job, I figured out that the United Way would pair up candidates with a local organization. It sounded pretty great, until I read that only three were selected. I applied anyway, with just as many qualms as I’d had about applying to everything else; and now that it was almost July, businesses had already pretty much hired the hands they needed. This was my last shot.

So when I was informed that the United Way wanted to interview me, ME, for not only one position, but TWO positions, I was floored. I was being considered for placement at more than one local organization.  I couldn’t believe it. I was more than excited- that is until I started freaking out. This was my first job interview experience, ever. I really didn’t want to mess this opportunity up.

In the morning, my nerves hadn’t eased a bit. I drove to the United Way in a mad frenzy, worrying I’d be late. Turns out I arrived 20 minutes early, though that didn’t calm me down at all. I waited in the car for what seemed like ages (though really only 5 minutes), thinking through what I’d say, before I finally got out and went inside.

As I walked through the door, my mood changed. Sure, I was still tense when I was called into the interview room and had to shake hands with the three interviewers, but their attitudes put me at ease. They weren’t grilling me, they were smiling, and they didn’t seem like they wanted me to fail. I stopped mumbling incoherently and made eye-contact with these friendly people; it wasn’t so hard. In fact, it was easy. I just had to tell them why I wanted the job, and I already knew the answer to that question. I replied to what they asked the best I could, asked any questions about the job that I had myself, and didn’t forget to hand them my resume. Everybody still seemed happy when it was over; I left the room feeling more than confident. Two hours later they called, congratulating me on getting my first choice internship at the local branch of the Salvation Army.

I am now on my 6th and final week of my internship experience. As I inch closer to my last day, I feel sadder than I thought I’d be. I have learned a copious amount of information in a number of different fields. Since I’m working at a service center, I’ve seen needy people everyday that come in for the free food pantry or for hot meals on the weekends; I’ve worked in the office and made referrals to other local organizations for individuals to receive help; I’ve made photo-copies, taken phone-calls, and updated computer documents; I was even able to teach three young musicians and help out in beginner bands at the Salvation Army’s annual Music Conservatory. I’ve had such a broad amount of experience over these past six weeks and I know what I’ve learned is invaluable. The fact that the internship is paid made it all even sweeter; luckily I’m putting it directly into a college savings account, or I’d probably have spent it already on CDs.