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“I’m expecting a lot from you. I’ll do whatever I can to set you up for success, but the rest is on you. You’ll be given the support of Mira Im, the Intern Coordinator, and of course, this summer’s internship cohort to get everything done. Use them and abuse them. That’s what they’re here for. If not for the Haneul internship program, I think most of these kids would go on to have pretty unimpressive careers and lives.”
The discomfort rolls around in my chest and lodges itself in my throat at the way she’s speaking about the interns, as if they’re second-class citizens and Haneul some kind of savior for their sad lives. I am supposed to be one of those interns, I remind myself.
“I need to be honest. No one’s expecting anything from this. But, if it’s done well—” Ms. Kang pauses to look me straight in the eye and I make sure to hold her gaze, to make it clear that I’m paying attention “—and someone notices the impact, it could be a huge breakout for the person in charge of it all.”
I nod slowly, taking in the gravity of her words. They may not be expecting much, but if I can deliver something meaningful, something memorable, I can land squarely on the radar of someone that has the power and the connections to pave the way for my future. And that’s all I want, all I need.
Because then the hard choice of going to junior college this year will have been worth it. Applying at Haneul despite my father being against it will have been worth it. Taking the risk and switching places with Elijah this summer will have been worth it.
“I’ll look all of this information over and get back to you with any questions I have,” I say.
“No, I’m not available for questions. I have a full plate of other projects that need to be done before we put on the Sky High Convention.”
“What is the Sky High Convention? No one’s really told me,” I say.
“Well, it’s only the biggest annual tech convention put on by a Korean company. Think E3, the Apple Developers Conference, and Dreamforce all mixed in one, but highlighting the best in what’s coming out of Korea in biotech, telecom, and gaming. It’s the most ambitious undertaking for our company to continue to prove itself as a leader in the tech space. It’s also where we announce our new gaming titles for the following year. There’s a lot riding on this. So, I need you to take that information,” she says, pointing to the binder in my hands, “and figure it out on your own. Report back to me next week once you have a timeline and budget.” With that, Ms. Kang turns her gaze to her computer screen, typing at an impressive speed. It’s clearly the signal for me to leave.
As I walk back toward my desk, I can feel my heart rate climbing. Yes, I’ve been waiting for this kind of opportunity to prove myself, but how am I supposed to actually do this? Where do I even start? For all my talk about Haneul being capable of something more than the past AIPs, I’ve never done anything like this before, let alone at this scale. Should an eighteen-year-old whose only work experience is shift manager at her local ice cream shop Scoops de Loop be given this much responsibility?
What was my motto again? Fake it till I make it? More like, fake it till I totally fall on my face and crawl into a hole.
This is your chance, I remind myself.You can do this. You have to.
10
jessica
Instead of returning to my desk, I turn back around and head to the elevators. I go down to what everyone refers to as the “ground floor” of Haneul, technically the thirty-second floor of the building, where I remember the interns have their workspace. I knock gently on the door and open it to find the ten of them sitting around a long, communal desk. The volume is loud in the room and something that looks like a peanut M&M flies across the room and hits one of the boys in the head. I look for Mira Im but don’t see her anywhere.
“You are so gonna pay for that, you mutherfucker. You made me lose my last life with that distraction,” one of them says, all focus on the Nintendo Switch in his hands.
“Just give up now. You’ll never crack my high score,” another says.
“I have all summer to try.”
I stand there, frozen. If this is what the interns do all day, there’s no way they’re gonna want to work their butts off for an annual project that none of the higher-ups even care about.
“Hey, Jessica, right?” The tall boy from the elevator yesterday calls out. How does he know my name? Elijah, from his spot next to him, whips his head around, clearly as surprised as I am.
“Jason, um, you just gonna call everyone Jessica now?” Elijah asks.
“Nah. I just asked Sunny Cho who she was working for this summer. I wanted to get the name of the girl who gave you her phone number,” the tall boy—Jason—says, sending a wink my way. “Don’t be mad at Sunny. She and I were in the internship program together last year and after she graduated, she landed the coveted spot of working for some hotshot new executive trainee, Jessica Lee. Which must be you.”
I stand glued to my spot, afraid to move and draw any more attention. I notice Elijah sit up a little straighter. Why is anyone looking into me and the Executive Training Program? If someone looks too closely, they’re certain to find I’m not who’s supposed to be in the role.
The jig is up. We’re doomed.
“There was some clerical error in HR and that’s why Jessica’s name was on the intern roster and Sunny thought Elijah here was gonna be her boss,” Jason explains. He gives Elijah a pat on the back, which causes him to nearly jump out of his skin. He must be as tense as I am. “They mixed the two names up. This dude doesn’t even know how to make toast. As if he could be an executive trainee.”
“Thanks, Jason. Appreciate your confidence in my abilities,” Elijah says. His shoulders drop in relief, as do mine. Eljiah was right, if we wait it out and pretend like we have no idea what was going on, other people will take the blame for the “mistake,” or, more likely, blame HR.
I don’t like the bitter taste in my mouth at the thought. Innocent people, just trying to do their best at work, being scapegoats. I truly hope no one gets into too much trouble over it.
But I guess we’re here now and I have a job to do.
“Hey, everyone, can I get your attention?” I try to make my voice even, loud, stern, but not demanding. I want their interest and respect, not their derision. “I’m Jessica Lee. I work in the Executive Training Program here at Haneul. I’ve been given the task of leading the Annual Internship Project. I...don’t know much more than that, but we can figure it out together. And, Jason, since you were in the program last year, maybe you can help us decipher these notes?” I ask, holding up the binder. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could put together something truly impressive, come up with an idea that’s really groundbreaking?”
Good job, Jessica. Inspire the team, let them know they’re part of something big.
