Meet Khadijah and Kevin — two of our spring interns from Chelsea CTE High School. Khadijah, our Design & Marketing intern, and Kevin, our Digital Print Production intern, are both New York City natives and high school seniors about to embark on a new adventure in a new jungle — college. Remember that beast? This was the first time we’ve ever had High School level interns, and didn’t know what to expect. After all is said and done, we can safely say that they were great! Khadijah and Kevin both did an awesome job handling their first experiences in the working world— and in Midtown Manhattan, nonetheless. They were both easily adaptable, able to keep up with the fast-paced environment at VPM, and were fun to work with.
Last week, we sat down with them for a quick Q&A to find out what they thought of their internship experiences. Here’s what they had to say (hold your breath):
VPM: As a high school senior, what were your thoughts about the “working world” before you began your internship? Did you find VPM’s work environment to be what you imagined?
KS: At first I thought that the working world was challenging and dull. It definitely wasn’t what I expected. I actually found it to be very similar to school right now; you have a to-do list of different projects or meetings, and you just have to get the work done. I was surprised most at how balanced the day was. I always thought a typical workday was pretty boring and monotonous, and that you had to constantly be at your desk all day long. Here, there’s a nice balance of work and play, which makes the work part more enjoyable.
KC: At first I thought that the working world would be difficult and unenjoyable. Working at VPM changed that. I thought the internship was really fun, but I also felt like I was doing something important. I like having responsibilities, and working here gave me a chance to have that and show what I can do. At the same time, it was still enjoying myself while working hard.
VPM: What did you enjoy most about the internship?
KS: I enjoyed organizing, whether that meant gathering sample pieces or helping categorize reports for LinkedIn. My favorite part was helping the Village Invites department with their social media, specifically looking for images and researching.
KC: I enjoyed using the cutter machine to size projects for clients. I also liked finishing jobs, such as putting books or magazines together. My favorite part of the internship though was really the time I spent with my co-workers. I learned a lot from all of them.
VPM: What has been the most important thing you’ve learned while interning with us?
KS: During this internship, I realized that I’m more of a hands-on person. The various tasks that had me up and moving around grabbed my attention most.
KC: The most important thing I’ve learned while working in production at VPM is the importance of the process when putting any kind of project together. I also learned a lot about the different ways businesses market through advertising, from the projects I saw in production.
VPM: What do you love most about living in New York City? Tell us about one of your favorite places.
KS: I love the fast pace of New York City. My favorite place to visit is Times Square because of all of the lights, billboards, and people. The scenery of Time Square, especially at night, is just amazing. I love it!
KC: I love the freedom and wildness of New York City. My favorite place is SoHo because of the shopping areas and diversity of people walking down the streets.
VPM: How would you define what a true New Yorker is in one sentence?
KS: A true New Yorker does not care what others think.
KC: True New Yorkers express themselves however they see fit.
Thanks for all of your hard work, Khadijah and Kevin! We had a great time working with you, and wish you the best of luck with all of your future endeavors.