Alex Ayers – Life of an Intern at Karin’s Florist – Blog #8 – Final Thoughts
Sadness washed over me. It was a sunny day, but I was swept up with the feeling of rainy and overcast weather. It was the last time I would be clocking out of Karin’s. I thought people were supposed to look forward to their last day on the job, especially teeneagers, but I didn’t revel in joy. I think that because Karin’s was so much more than just another summer job, my heart felt heavy as I walked out. I knew I was going to miss the people, the atmosphere and the great learning opportunity that was awarded to me. At that moment, I wished that saying all good things come to an end wasn’t true. But as the days get shorter and the nights cooler I know my time at Karin’s has come to a close. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though. I’m holding out hope that I can come back every once in a while to keep the Karin’s Florist spark alive.
At the start, I didn’t realize how special the opportunity to intern at Karin’s was. My first few days were during a hectic holiday weekend, and I was lost in the commotion. Everyone was busy, so I tried to stay out of the way and help where I could. As the store got quieter, I was able to learn more about how everything functions and begin to talk to the people around me. One of my most memorable moments was my delivery run with Andreas. It was one of the first times I really got to know one of the staff members at Karin’s which ignited my appreciation for the community that runs the store.
As the weeks stretched on, I realized choosing to spend my summer at Karin’s was the right decision. Many of my friends talked about standard teenage jobs like a caddy or hostess, so when I told them I chose to work at a florist they were confused at first. But as I explained that I was able to cultivate my passion for business and that I enjoyed going to work, I think a few of my friends were a little jealous, and I began to have a deeper appreciation for how exceptional my position was. This feeling of gratefulness has only grown. Whenever I look back on my time at Karin’s, it makes me happy to know that I spent my summer in a constructive way that taught me a lot about business and even more about the importance of community.
As I head into senior year, I’m looking forward to a new school year and seeing where my passion for business takes me next. My Karin’s Florist journey started off with trying to start a vending machine company, and due to some good fortune, it eventually morphed into an internship at Karin’s. What I learned from that experience is that I have no idea where life will take me next. One day I could have it all figured out and the next I could be right back to square one. My only hope is that whatever happens, I want to take it in stride and make the most of it. Like one of my favorite country artists puts it, ain’t it funny how life changes.
