Last week at the opening of The Brick Coffee House a good friend and I were talking about how my job was going (he’s actually the guy who told me about the job), and as we were talking, he asked me this question, “Are you ok with just being an intern?”

I had to think about that. Am I ok with being “just an intern”? A lot of people my age are pursuing careers in their chosen fields, and many men and women in ministry have had their first full time staff job and are moving on to the next one at 22/23. So, am I ok with being just an intern?

Absolutely. Here’s why:

  1. As I understand it, our economy is still in the crapper (can I get a ruling on that…is it supposed to be really bad, or getting better this week?). I recently learned that the place I was working before I was in school had the locks changed. There went that job. I’d be out searching for something else. But right now? I’m in school. My housing and meals have already been paid for. I don’t have to worry about that. I have to worry about gas a little bit, but mostly whether I want to order this book, or that book. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’ll have some loans (I’m already working on scholarships for next year, I plan to scholarship as much of this baby as possible) to pay back when it’s all said and done, but (again, as I understand it) by the time I’m ready to enter the workforce with my degree, the economy is projected to be a little more stable. So, not only will I be going after what I want to do, I’ll be going after it with more experience than the other guy, plus I’ll be able to match his almighty degree. In short? It’s financially responsible for me to be in school right now, working as an intern in my chosen field.
  2. It’s best for my ego. I was getting dangerously close to doing things the way I wanted because that’s I how I wanted to do them, and it was going to be great, and it was going to glorify God more than anything anyone else around me was doing! Either that, or I was getting frustrated with my situation, and full of myself. It was more likely that second one. Being “just an intern” means that, even though my boss has given me a certain amount of freedom, I still answer to him. And to his boss. I’m not it. If I was…I’d probably be very inclined to think much of myself and forget that my job is to make much of Jesus. That’s an important distinction, and it’s a trap that I think a lot of young people in ministry get caught in. I don’t want to be caught in that. So for right now? The best place for me to gain experience, and perspective, is by working as an intern in my chosen field.

In the end. After thought and prayer. I am very ok with being “just an intern”.

-Stippick