JUST FOR YOU

《17》Internship.

This particular semester was kind of hectic as we were to undergo our internship program with any company that was willing to accept IT students. Meaning we had to go job hunting. All the companies I had gone to told me the same thing: "They'll get back to me or they've accepted most of my colleagues and they aren't admitting anymore." For six weeks, I went job hunting, with no luck and plenty of suffering.

I sighed in frustration as I approached the fourth hospital, praying earnestly that I'd be accepted as I was beginning to run out of forms to submit. I walked into the reception, raised my chin, and ambled towards the receptionist. "Good day, ma." I greeted and smiled flirtatiously at her, forgetting she was a woman.

"Good day. Who do you want to see?" She smiled back at me without looking away from her computer. She seemed nice.

"Um, I'd like to undergo..." I paused as she raised a brow at me. I looked back at her, she looked away to face her computer. I regained my composure and continued with my speech, "my industrial training at this wonderful facility you have here." I gestured with my hands, hoping she bought my fake optimism. Her brows knitted in a frown as she glanced at me with unnerving thoroughness. I shifted from one foot to the other, nervously unsure of what to do next as she kept on staring at me. I quickly remembered I had an application form to show her. I unzipped my bag, brought it out, and stretched out my hand to hand it over to her.

She took the form from my hand, gave it a quizzical look, looked at me weirdly and then handed it back to me before she spoke. "Have your seat; I'll get back to you." She stood up from her desk and went into the inner office. Minutes later, she arrived and sat down back on her seat.

After thirty miserable minutes, she got a phone call. After she hung up, she said to me, "Go down this corridor to the end; you'll see a glass door. Go through it, turn right, and then take a left turn. After the left turn, you'll get to another corridor. The second door on your right is where you should enter. Tell them your reason for coming here." She explained in a stern tone, as if with this silly explanation, I'd automatically find my way to the office.

I squinted. "I can't remember these directions. Does the office have a name?"

She sneered. I nearly stuck my tongue out at her. "Phlebotomy room."

"Thank you very much." I replied before walking away.

Reciting the directions she gave me, I was able to locate the office. The office was filled with about six people, and there was someone that came to do a blood test. I let out a loud gasp as I saw the needle prick the person's arm, making both the patient and the person drawing the blood to glance at me. I quickly tore my gaze away from that cringeworthy sight and sashayed towards the woman sitting behind the desk.

Grinning, I greeted. "Good afternoon, ma."

"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" She looked up briefly from her phone before returning her gaze back to it.

Was I smelling or did I look stupid? Why was she looking at me like I was wearing rags or looking tattered? I thought.

"Err—I... err—I—" I stammered; she kept on glaring at me, probably wondering what happened to my tongue. I swallowed hard, cleared my throat, puffed out my cheeks, and blew it out. My confidence was restored. "I would like to undergo my industrial training here. This is my application form from my school." I stated proudly. I brought out the form and handed it to her.

"You're from the University of Lagos. Hmmm?" I noticed a hint of suspicion in her tone. "Have you written a letter of application?"

"I didn't know I was supposed to write a letter." My forehead creased.