By: Ashley Cerasaro
Special to the Weekender

King’s College, like most colleges and universities, is internship happy. I’ve been bombarded with flyers from the Office of Experiential Learning, mass emails from the office’s director and professors’ urgings ever since I set foot on that campus. They told me that it would boost my resume and that I would gain real life job skills.

Well, it sounded like a pretty good deal to me, so as soon as I was eligible, I decided to apply. One of my professors recommended the Weekender as an option; I applied, and the rest is history. I’ve spent the past three months as an editorial intern, compiling the Agenda listings and Flicks feature, reporting the occasional “Tell Us” question, writing feature articles and bringing you “Shop.”

And in case you’re wondering, I was never-asked to make the coffee.

Shockingly, everyone at King’s was right; I gained real life job skills. But that’s not even the half of it. As the 12 weeks come to a close, I realize that what I’ve really found, is myself. With the help of my co-writers, I’ve learned to work as part of a team, brainstorm concepts, interview and most importantly, have fun. Change is never easy, and naturally, it’ll be sad on Thursday when I have to say my goodbyes, but know that I’ll be smiling on the inside because I’m walking out of this experience with more than I did when recently departed Editor Joe Student first let me in the door. So in the end, it was more than a good deal; it was priceless.

But I don’t have much time to digest it all, because in just a few weeks, I will be starting my senior year of college, which is also bittersweet. I’ve spent not only the last year in NEPA but all of my 21 years—all of my life. This is a place where I grew, loved and learned about myself.

Part of me is aching to get out, to see new places and to take on the world, but I know that no matter where I am. a piece of my heart will remain right here in coal country, simply because, this will always be home.

So I guess it seems rather unconventional that I’m both introducing myself and saying goodbye in the same issue, but what can I say; I’m an unconventional gal. Besides, it’s not goodbye forever, more like cya latta.

But if you find that you miss me that much, check the mall. The odds of finding me are quite good...because if I’m not studying, that’s where I’ll be.