The Internals: My Internship at Polo Ralph Lauren

Summer is for relaxing, lounging by the pool, savoring a mint chocolate chip sundae on a quiet afternoon.  The luckiest people whisk themselves away on vacation--out to a beach hideaway or abroad to the sunny cities of Europe.  Friends scatter, only to reconnect at the beginning of the next school year, and everyone appreciates the vacant hours to simply unwind.  

For me, summer is about taking a break of a different sort.  A break from my usual collegiate self in favor of adopting a more grown-up working girl sensibility.  I live for the internship.  It makes me feel passionate and even, dare I say, important.  *This summer I am working at the Polo Ralph Lauren corporate office headquarters in New York City.  And yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds* _(for the most part)_.  But what people tend to forget is: no matter where you work, a smiling helpful intern can be an invaluable asset.

I hop off the subway every morning and walk through the main lobby of the Polo offices on Madison Avenue that are filled with antique oil paintings, supple tufted leather chairs, and green flannel wallpaper.  When I walk through the burled maple doors with my Polo security pass, no one needs to know that I'm not a full employee or that I'm living in a dorm room the size of a closet for the summer.  They just need to know that I am here to do whatever I can for company and smile every second that I'm doing it.

*It was an exciting day indeed when, four weeks into my internship, I finally saw the man behind the polo player*, Mr. Lauren himself.  It was only for a moment- he was getting out of the elevator I was getting into and I almost didn't see the miniature mogul behind the giant brass horse sculpture bolted to the floor of the vestibule.

*Having a summer internship can be one of the most rewarding experiences*, but you have to work at it.  A great internship doesn't just fall into your lap, and the earlier you start looking, the better.  Don't be afraid to make phone calls and email your reume to the Human Resources departments of companies you would be interested in working for-the absolute worst that can happen is they don't contact you.  A lot of companies have structured internship programs, _like the one I am participating in at Polo_, and even if they don't, most places are open to taking on students who are genuinely interested in learning about their company.  If you're willing to accept an unpaid internship, odds are one of the places you contact would be happy to let you come and work for them.

Even this job, with all the glamorous scenes of foxhounds and horses galloping their way across the wood paneled walls of the office, has its fair share of dull intern duties.  You will find that everywhere.  There are days when I spend the morning editing excel spreadsheets and get sent to the make-your-own salad place for my manager.  But there are also days when I get to meet with cashmere yarn vendors, take an employee trip to the Polo store at the Rhinelander mansion, and brainstorm ideas for the Fall 2007 collection with the head of Men's Design.  So, you take it all in stride.

*Summer may be a time to unwind, but who says I can't do it in 5 inch heels at a 9-6 job?*  I have loved every minute of this internship so far, and it's only going to get better.  The people I work for respect and trust me, and I will have many great contacts and friends when I leave here at the end of my internship.  And who knows, maybe I'll run into Ralph again, many years from now, and he'll say he remembers me from the elevator.

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