When I first started this internship, I had high expectations. I knew that it would be different than the other internship I had; I could tell from the interview alone that this one would be a little bit more exciting, a little bit more hands-on, and was definitely about a subject matter that I enjoy. And I have to say, I was pretty much right.

I think that my experience has been exactly what an interning experience should be: there have been highs and lows, exciting moments of feeling like an actual journalist and those back-to-earth moments of feeling like the lowest person on the office food-chain. There have been frustrating moments when I’ve felt like I just want to walk out and never come back (like a 12-hour day where there was absolutely NOTHING to do), and there have also been moments where I wouldn’t give up the job for the world (like when I got to interview Derek Jeter). I’ve had to deal with some rude people, but I’ve also gotten the chance to meet some really amazing people. And probably the best thing was seeing my name in a national publication several times, and knowing that my hard work in school was finally starting to pay off a little.

But now it’s almost the end of August, and as much as I’d like to stay at this magazine for the next few years, it doesn’t seem possible. Never mind the fact that I’ve been interning for close to 8 months and it’s starting to look a little pathetic, but I think this is the best time to move on and learn about other areas of the industry, meet new people, and get even more experience. So in a week I will be going to another publication, and yes, it’s another internship. I may not be getting paid for what I do, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had a big, bitter taste of the real world.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my all-you-can-eat buffet of real life:

1. Some people are not going to be that nice. You always hear people say, ‘in the real world, no one’s going to be nice to you.’ And while there are definitely some amazing people out there who WILL be nice to you, there are also the people who won’t be. And that’s fine. As long as you know it has nothing to do with you, the experience will only make you stronger. A little quicker to fire back.

2. Celebrities are not as intimidating as I thought they would be. My first celeb interview was with Katharine McPhee, and I was terrified. I had never really had a conversation with a star before, and had no idea what to expect, visions of crazy, snobby celebs going through my head. But McPhee couldn’t have been nicer, and after a few months of meeting even bigger celebrities and interviewing them, I found out that they weren’t as intimidating to talk to as everyone thinks they will be (the worst part is standing in front of them seeing exactly just how beautiful they really are). Now I feel like if I could interview celebrities, I can interview (and be interviewed by…) anyone.

3. You should be nice to EVERYONE. One day when I first started my internship, I had a quick chat with someone who worked there – only to find out later that it was the editor-in-chief (I immediately panicked and went through the entire convo in my head about 50 times to make sure I didn’t say anything dumb). When you’re working within the industry of your choice, you might not know who everyone is and the best thing to do is just be nice to everyone, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. No one likes the snobby intern who thinks she’s better then everyone else. And, trust me on this one, people talk…a lot; whatever reputation you have will spread quickly.

4. Always do the tasks no one else wants to do. If I was asked to stay late, I stayed late. If they needed a volunteer to get a ridiculous amount of coffee for the entire office, I did it. And any other small and annoying task that had everyone rolling their eyes, I did those too. It’s a great way to stand out, because it made my editor see I wasn’t just there for the cool stuff, that I was there because I really wanted to get ahead.

5. What I really want to do is write. This internship has been amazing, but the only negative is the limited opportunity to write. At first I thought I could handle working at a magazine like that, but after a few months, I know that’s not true. I graduated with a degree in print journalism because I love writing, not because I wanted to stalk celebrities. No matter what else came out of my 8 months of interning, figuring out exactly what I want in life was definitely the most important.

Here’s hoping to getting a job soon and leaving interning behind!

Some days at my internship I get to do so many fun things – like a random lunch with Kendra Wilkinson or Edie Falco, or doing a video interview of an all-male a capella group (OK, that one was a little strange…). Some days, I’m just kept busy doing any number of things, whether it’s searching for the perfect ice cream cake at Ben & Jerry’s, researching celebrities who have said they want to renew their marriages (a real project, and I swear it took up most of my afternoon), or helping out in the fashion closet (a personal fav).

But truthfully, most of the time, I am sitting in front of my computer with absolutely. nothing. to. do. And don’t think that Facebook or Twitter can keep me busy. You can only read so many mindless status updates before it makes you want to de-friend all of your friends. One day, I literally had NOTHING to do for 8 hours. It was painfully boring, but I’ve unfortunately gotten used to it. Especially this summer, since there are so many interns who need to be given tasks to do, and my intern coordinator is very fair.

So, for the other interns out there who I know know exactly what I’m talking about, here are some of my ways to make your mark and pass the time.

1. Try to get to know the other people in your office. If your intern supervisor has nothing to do, you can take it upon yourself to ask around the office if anyone else needs some help. Sometimes, people don’t ask because they forget interns are there, or they assume they’re too busy. This is a great way to do a little networking and really figure out what the office is about. Plus, you’ll look like an awesomely hard worker and everyone will appreciate it.

2. Organize and clean wherever you can. Offices are usually messy, and sometimes disorganized. At least, any magazine I’ve ever worked at is. Even if no one notices that you’ve cleaned, it’ll make YOUR job easier. File magazines away and throw out papers that you know no one needs anymore. It’s an easy way to stand out from the other interns, especially if you’re never asked to do this.

3. Do some job hunting. If you feel like this isn’t the place you want to work, or you don’t think the internship is going anywhere, spend your free time sending out your resume, because frankly, there are no excuses not to. All of the winter interns I worked with got their summer internships doing just that. I’ve found that Ed2010.com and MediaBistro.com are the best for journalism jobs.

And when those productive tasks (or that second latte) just aren’t keeping you awake, here are some more fun things I do. I like to always look like I’m doing something and not just sitting there about to fall asleep, so as long as no one looks at my computer monitor, I’m good. Of course, I’m not condoning slacking, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

1. Two words: gossip blogs. If you’re into this stuff, actually even if you’re not, these can keep you entertained for a good part of the day. Reading about all of the ridiculous things celebs do can definitely give you a much-needed laugh, plus, it’s a great way to bond with the other interns. Some personal favs of mine are: TheSuperficial.com, ONTD, WWTDD.com, JustJared.com, Vulture, and GoFugYourself.com (really, the last two are the best).

2. Make your own blog. Free time at your internship is a perfect time to start a blog, if you’re into writing or even just want a place to spew your very important thoughts. I get more blogging done at work than any other time in my life. Plus, you’ll discover so many fun and interesting blogs that I promise you’ll become addicted. Tumblr, Blogger, and WordPress are all easy to use.

3. Watch something. When I get really desperate, I start playing around with Youtube and Hulu. The other day I typed in ‘Shaun White’ and was kept busy for a good hour. And for days when I really have nothing to do, I’ll look for old episodes of The Hills. It sounds awful to spend my internship time doing that, but I’ve seen worse – like one girl who used to fall asleep at her computer and thought she was fooling everyone (she wasn’t).

4. CollegeCandy. Duh!

Now that the first couple of days are over, I feel a lot more settled – still need some decorations for my cubicle, but definitely know my way around the office and feel more comfortable talking to editors and asking for help. I’ve conducted two interviews and written two tiny pieces (more like blurbs than articles, but hey, you gotta start somewhere!) I’ve even discovered a great lunch restaurant! If you work in midtown east, you must check out the Amish Market on 240 45th street between 2nd and 3rd avenue. Really good sandwiches and salad bars and fresh sushi, which I, for one, can never pass up!

All you critical readers out there (last week I made some people VERY outraged by complaining about my faxing, copying, and general slave labor duties) will be pleased to know that I have been staying away from excess cab rides and mojitos, and instead making my boyfriend pay for me.

JUST KIDDING!

I have definitely been trying to control the cash flow, and I’ve come up with a few tips for my fellow interns out there in cyber space.

1. Take advantage of the company coffee machine, and say adios to the Starbucks lattes. Many offices offer their employee’s free coffee (and water, so you can save money and the environment by staying away from plastic bottles), and you can drink as many cups a day as you want without breaking the bank!

2. Ask your manager if there’s a gym in your building (I know most publishing company buildings have one), and if so, if you can use it. You’ll save tons of money on a gym membership, especially if you’re living in NYC like I am. If you are, you know that all your after dinner drinks, late night pizza runs (hey, it’s the city that never sleeps, right?), and hours spent sedentary in front of the computer screen have the potential to add a few inches to your waistline. In bikini season, that’s bad news.

3. Limit the number of times you eat out a week. My parents are graciously giving me money for food, but if you’re paying for lunch out of your own pocket it can get really expensive. Give yourself two or three “eat out” days a week, and you’ll have more money to spend on dinners and drinks or the occasional weekend getaway. And know what the cash culprits are – anything that gets weighed before you pay (i.e. everything from the Whole Foods hot/cold food bar) is bound to get pretty pricey.

4. See if your transportation provider has a weekly or monthly ticket pass. I’ve discovered that buying the monthly NYC subway pass (for 81 dollars… and get it while it’s hot, because the fee’s about to jump up to $100!) is more cost effective than paying as you go, and it allows you to move through the station more quickly. Many companies will reimburse you for these transportation costs as well, and all you have to do is ask.

Remember that people aren’t always going to throw offers out there (especially in this economic climate), and that it’s up to you to put yourself out there and ask for what you think you deserve. The worst that can happen is that they’ll say no!