Trying to find the right balance The Intern Diaries

by Whitney Riggs

I never thought I would turn down the radio in my own car.

I remember when I was younger traveling with my parents to soccer tournaments out of town. They got so annoyed when my favorite Backstreet Boys song reached a certain volume. Just when I was about to belt out the chorus of "I Want It That Way," my dad mumbled something under his breath and “Turn it down.” I couldn't understand why on earth he would do something like that!

Just the other day, I drove back to Bloomington from my fourth day of interning at St. Louis Woman Magazine, and I was beyond exhausted. I had been up since 7 a.m. — which is unreal for a college student like myself — my head was pounding, my lower back was tight as a rope and all I wanted to do was eat something. Too bad I hadn't gone to the grocery in months.

While all this complaining swirled about in my head, I unconsciously extended my arm and did the unthinkable: I turned the radio off. I couldn’t handle the sound of the bass pumping in my eardrums any longer, and I most certainly didn’t want to hear some rapper say "baby" again. I rode 20 minutes home without a peep from my speakers.

At that moment, I realized I was starting to grow up. Goodbye youth.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a college student at Indiana University spending my summer interning at St. Louis Woman Magazine. I have a semester left before I graduate, so this internship should be great experience before I really try to get a job.

When Rebecca sent me e-mail a few months ago congratulating me on receiving the editorial position, I was beyond pumped. Don't get me wrong: I still am today. But unfortunately, the amount of free time lacking in my life is starting to put a damper on my summer. Driving to Indianapolis(home office) from Bloomington a few times a week while holding a steady job and taking a summer class is a bit overwhelming, to say the least. I'm tight on money, crazy busy trying to complete stories, and I haven't even touched the book I'm supposed to read for my Italian class.

Will I be able to balance my priorities?