I needed the whole thing to set in before I can present a proper and impartial evaluation on my whole experience interning with Galaxie mag's editorial team.
Nah that was a lie. I was just plain lazy. That's one and two, there are some things I needed to figure out since the results got out. Note on that - still figuring it out. And so haven't really got the time to feel nostalgic about the interning days which should have been able to compel me to write something about it. A write up at five in the morning after a good hair wash sounds like one of those typical moments to feel nostalgic eh? Possible.
Interning with Galaxie was perhaps the luckiest thing that has ever hit on me. It all began with a random email. The same email which I believe Seventeen mag, The Star and NSTP would have received. You know, the same introductory line I lifted from the very email I sent to SLB cause I thought hey if I scored that with this line, the theory is that this should work for any other employer too right? Guess bosses from those other mags have different taste. Wouldn't be bothered though cause Gordon gave me that break I was relentlessly praying for. The break from law. I mean it was my final months before I graduate (gotta admit I had doubts whether that will happen this year), it was a either-you-do-now-or-you'll-never-know crossroad. I know if I didn't click 'send' to that email, I would regret for the rest of my life knowing I didn't have the balls to get my hands on the thing I've been preaching that I will do someday.
When Gordon replied me, my eyes froze, staring at that subject headline for more than five seconds before clicking on it. Not even an ounce of belief was invested in the possibility for a reply from the I-once-used-to-read magazine. An appointment was arranged and even when he put it clearly it was going to be a chat, I took it that it's an interview. I arrived darn early for fear of a negative impression and I sat in the lobby quietly without making any large movement. Too cautious you may think but you would never know, he might be watching. So turns out he wasn't watching. The interview, as in the chat with Gordon was a laid back one. It was in the lobby and pretty warm, no not from my constant flushing. The sun was harsh to me that day okay. But just when I started warming up to him to the point that I shared with him my exclusive dream, a dream that no one has any knowledge of except for a certain someone, he asked me to write - on the spot! Inside I was thinking oh come on, like a pop quiz when I was in Standard 3 to see who gets to be dismissed first? No, this is worse than a pop quiz. This is an essay exam. I wrote a movie review on The Avengers and a short write up on TVXQ, my self-proclaimed-favourite-but-actually-I-was-no-longer-interested-in-Kpop K-Pop boy band. But when he told me that he appreciates it that a law student like yours truly would take some time off for a detour in journalism, my sixth sense told me I may have found the right person to work with.
My dad wasn't too happy with the news when I told him I got the confirmation from The Star's HR (Galaxie is owned by The Star by the way). He expressed his qualms by blaming it on the forty-minute long drive to the workplace for such a meagre allowance but I know deep down it's cause he's always thought his daughter is going to be a lawyer. He must have thought that journalism dream of mine has long been forgotten, devoured by this new-found hunger for a niche in the corporate world. It's not his fault though. He gloats on the fact that I'm a lawyer on my way and I've been more than happy to pave the way for that presumption. He gritted his teeth and gave his blessing anyway and I know I've said that it annoys me but there's a tinge of awkward poignant sentiment aroused in me looking back at the times when he called during working hours to remind me to drive with extra caution when it rained cats and dogs outside. Oh and also the fact that the monthly allowance wasn't discontinued despite my paid internship. I swear, I did say NO when he handed me the money. I even pushed the money away with full force, short from stuffing it back into his grip. But he insisted. *grin*
To be continued...
