INTERNSHIP @STAR FM

They say that when you are in the last year of your college life, you won’t have to do anything at all except for the haunted days of thesis writing. That idea might be true to certain extent but  found out that our Internship for this semester has been changed from one hundred fifty hours of internship to two hundred hours of free service and tons of learning.

            The news has been a shock to most of us, especially for those who are working part time. After hearing the news, my friends and I hurriedly fired off our internet connection and searched for radio stations along Metro Manila for our internship for radio. We went to several stations such as; DZRH at MBC Compound, Radyo Filipino in Intramuros and Bombo Radyo in Makati. Since the internship slots at MBC was already full, we kept hoping for the other two stations to accommodate us. Luckily, on the next day, Bombo Radyo had called us to report immediately. And that began our internship for radio this semester.

            I started my training on June 27, 2012. It was a great start for me since the station accommodated twelve interns this year and all of them were from my section. When I said “all”, I meant all of us. We came from the same section, different circles though. Still, we have made a smooth working relationship, created a strong bond, and a lasting friendship inside the station. I spent my two hundred hours of internship at DWSM 102.7 Star FM. This is where the admin brought us. In the first week of our training in the said station, we were like foreigners transported in a different country, maybe even planet. The office is not that big, just about double the size of a standard classroom at COC. I was at first, surprised by the environment but the place is decent enough to be called office. It has all the equipment needed for a standard radio station, since the main office of Bombo Radyo is in Makati.

            Throughout my internship, I have learned so much from the Disc Jockeys and the staff who are already in the industry. Working with the people in the media industry, I developed my traits and even improved my bad habits, like being late and the universal word for laziness, “procrastination.” My days began a little too slow until I harrumphed all the way to the station.  Taking deep breaths and screwing my head, I dragged myself to get through the day. I almost made a monument for myself for ditching my bad habits away. That is one of the hundred lessons I learned during my internship period at Star FM. I don’t mean to brag but working with other people had changed me. I learned to participate in every way I thought I never would. I experienced living a life of a media practitioner in that short span of time. Thirty days. Those days of my training at Star FM will be treasured for the rest of my days. Having my training there is like taking my first step as toddler.

            Every day, I listed down reminders and things that I should do for the entire day. My checklist went something like this;

            RAIN CHECK

ü  WEAR A SMILE

ü  IGNORE PMS

ü  HELP OTHERS

ü  LAUGH A LOT

ü  BRING BOOK

ü  KILL BOREDOM

ü  MAKE MYSELF USEFUL

ü  STAY HAPPY

            My days went by, I was growing to love the people at the station, beginning to feel at home with the staff as my family, and liking the atmosphere brought by the difference of the air inside the station. The smell of the boxes, the clicking sound of computer keyboard, and the laughter of people from every corner of the room started to make my day. My life wouldn’t be complete without the yelling, shouting, singing and the screams of happiness I only experienced with the people I used to love. I surely will miss this routine of mine. Of course, I learned how to be like them when I was having my intern at the station. They taught me how to use the console at the DJ’s booth, to use the other equipment in the recording studio and applied the writing prowess I learned in school.

            The best thing about experiencing those things, I have grown as an individual. I know now what path of career I should take. There is no doubt that I like to be part of the media industry, whether print or broadcasting. I really want to have a great changing impact and to influence the next generation of broadcasters and journalists. For now, I am willing to learn and to strive with the help and assistance of the experienced people in the industry. 

            Once I figure out what I really want to do, (for real) I will climb the mountain top and shout at the top of my lungs. I will fly. 

            God Bless us all!