Don't Close the Door on Opportunity

A lesson I learned the hard way this year was to never say “no” to any opportunity or offer right away.  I made a mistake.

My mom always told me that when you’re searching for a job, you should say yes to everything that comes along, and then make decisions based upon what offers you gather in the end.  And I always trusted her and followed this rule!  Which is why it kills me every time I think about this one missed chance.

Last fall I used the shotgun technique (applying to a million different internships in hopes that one ends up working out) and received a really good internship offer which I took immediately.  I’m happy I took it, I really am.  Its with a reputable company doing work I am actually interested in.  Its exciting and all that and I’m very grateful.

But after I accepted it, I heard from a blogger I had contacted earlier in the fall about having an internship and she offered me an interview too!  Although its not on the same level as a dominating magazine, I really admire and respect this blogger, and I would really have loved the opportunity to work with her.  However, since I had already accepted my big, impressive internship, I told her thanks but no thanks.

What was I thinking?? I literally go over it every single day.  I literally have more than enough time in my schedule to work something out with her.  I should have at least had my interview with her to see what she was all about, and tried to work her into my schedule.  I regret that hastily made decision every single day.

I know interning for an independent blogger wouldn’t have been really fantastic for my career goals, but it was something I really kind of just wanted.

It made me realize that although there are things you think you should do, you also have to do the things you really want, too.

Ultimately, I think I have enough on my plate this semester that I will be okay in the end.  And, as I mentioned before, I really really love the internship I have now.  And, as a duty to my conscience, I will be contacting the blogger again in the fall, asking for another opportunity, no matter what kind of experiences and opportunities I already have.