Oklahoman interns NewsOK.com Blogging Community

I’m heading out soon and for those of you who I didn’t get a chance to see before I left I just wanted to say goodbye. It was nice knowing you all.

Gosh it went by fast huh? Too fast.

-Sarah D.– Features (for the next hour)

Here’s the funny thing about good-byes:

You can see them coming, but when you actually have to say those two dreaded words. . . it’s never easy.

That’s how I feel today, with less than four hours left in my Oklahoman internship.

I couldn’t agree more with Richard and Dontay: This experience has been invaluable to me beyond words, and looking back now, I can’t believe how much I’ve learned.

Like I’ve told my editors, the only reason I came to Oklahoma was because of the glowing reputation for The Oklahoman’s internship program. I had no ties to this state, so there was no other incentive for me to come here. Yet I couldn’t be more glad with the choice I made! This internship program surpassed its great reputation, and I’ve found Oklahoma has the same “Midwestern nice” qualities I’ve been familiar with all my life, which is a comfort and a joy.

Like Richard, I also find myself wondering, “What if?” [What if I didn’t find the courage within to take risks and travel to places I’ve never been?] Well, then I’d certainly have regrets.

But that’s not the case. I’ve treasured every moment here in Oklahoma - even the stressful ones.

I came here wanting to improve my writing and gain experience in multimedia - and I feel like I did just that. Plus, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented reporters, editors and photographers, who’ve each helped me become a better journalist.

I’ll walk away from here with improved skills and new friendships that I hope will last. [That means you, fellow interns!]

It’s sad to be saying good-bye. But as I’ve been saying to my colleagues here, it’s only good-bye for now. This certainly won’t be the last you hear from me.

Thank you, Oklahoman, for everything you’ve given me this summer. It’s been a wonderful ride.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

When today closes, the summer 2008 internship class at The Oklahoman officially graduates. It’s been about two months since the class first met at that oh-so-long one-two punch called orientation. I think it’s safe for me to speak for everyone when I say these two months have flown by. I also think it’s safe of me to speak for everyone when I say we’ll be walking out of here with a tighter grip on our craft. After all, that was the point of this internship.

As I sit in the newsroom at 7:50 a.m. this fine Friday, I find myself wondering “what if?” What if I never talked to Joe Hight, who mentioned an internship to me? What if I never acted on it? What if I went to college to study chemisty like I had planned? Oh, what ifs are fun to think about. But sometimes I’d rather not ask that question; I’d rather just relish in the moment.

This two-month period has been one gigantic moment, and I’ve relished it to the point of exhaustion.

There are no regrets from this intern. And to quote Bilbo Baggins: “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” Kidding about the second part.

So, fellow interns, and even you, bosses and bigwigs: it’s been good. (And feel free to hire me at any time.)

-Richard Hall, NewsOK.com