My odyssey at the Bank of Industry (BOI) commenced on a most propitious note, as the inaugural day of September dawned, heralding a new month replete with promise and possibility. The telephone call from the Human Resources department, informing me of the acceptance of my supplication for a four-month internship at this venerable institution, served as a veritable balm to my spirits, buoying my mood for the remainder of the month.
Upon presenting myself at the bank’s premises on Monday, the second day of September, 2024, I underwent a rigorous assessment, subsequent to which I was formally inducted into the ranks of interns. Initially, I was assigned to the Public Sector and Intervention Platform (PSIP) department, a realm far removed from my desired domain of Public Relations, wherein I was to toil for a period of one month prior to transitioning to the latter.
Within the PSIP department, I discovered an environment redolent with calculations, budgets, loans, and grants, a veritable cornucopia of fiscal intricacies. The inaugural day of my sojourn was devoted to a plethora of activities, including assessment, induction, and the meticulous completion of necessary documentation. On the succeeding day, I was entrusted with the task of sorting and categorizing a vast array of files and documents pertinent to an ongoing project within the department.
In addition to these tasks, I had to do various menial duties, including, but not limited to, procuring hot water for my superiors, a task that, while mundane, has afforded me an opportunity to demonstrate my willingness to acquiesce to the demands of my internship. Regrettably, my physical stature has led to my being perceived as an undergraduate, a misconception that has, in turn, led to a dearth of challenging assignments.
As a postgraduate student, I had envisioned an internship replete with opportunities for growth, learning, and experience. Alas, my tenure thus far has been characterized by a paucity of stimulating tasks, a situation exacerbated by the confidential nature of many duties performed by the staff, which has rendered it problematic for them to delegate responsibilities to me. Nevertheless, I have derived some benefit from my time here, particularly in regards to honing my proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
A further highlight of my experience has been the provision of staff buses, a benevolent gesture that has served as a veritable boon, mitigating the onerous burden of transportation costs. As I embark upon the remaining fourteen weeks of my internship, I fervently hope that the opportunities for learning and growth will proliferate, even as I eagerly anticipate my eventual transition to the Public Relations department, my true domain of interest.
