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applicants than we have positions for. We have a team that scans all the resumes and credentials and narrows the pool down. They then hold pre-screening interviews where they get a better feel for the candidates. That helps them whittle the pool down even further. Based on experience and personality, they forward candidates to the editors to pick from. We have twenty five internship openings each semester.”
    I was immensely grateful that I had somehow skipped all of those steps. I had been nervous enough leading up to this first day. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what I’d have been like if I’d had to go through screenings and interviews and being a piece of paper in a stack of hopefuls.
    “So why didn’t I have to do all of that?”
    “You came very highly recommended.”
    Eek.
    “Don’t worry, it worked out well for me. It is such a pain in the ass having to sift through piles of paperwork trying to figure out who someone is based on a bulleted list of their life accomplishments, especially when the people being represented on paper haven’t even attempted to live life yet. I know you kids think you’re so grown up and worldly, but you haven’t even had to pay your own bills really yet.”
    His eyes glazed a little bit like he was thinking about something sad. Just as quickly as it came, the glimmer of sadness left and the twinkle returned to his eyes.
    “Um, glad to have made your life easier?”
    “You sure as hell did. Statlin has never sent me an intern before. Thirty years I’ve known that man, and he has never once told me that I had to take someone on. Instead of having to read resumes, I got to read newspapers. That was a preferred method of getting to know you than reading bullet points. You would not believe how many of them are absolutely identical. Identical . It’s almost as if they paid the same person to over-inflate their meager life accomplishments.”
    He shook his head again, incredulously this time, before starting walking forward.
    I scurried behind him, grateful that I thought to wear flats because I would already have face planted if I wore the heels that I had briefly considered.
    We walked through a maze of cubicles, the steady clicking of keys on laptops as soothing to me as spa music. I was impressed at the speed he moved considering his age.
    The further and further we wove through the building my anxiety returned. How the hell was I ever going to find my way through this building?
    “I suppose we should probably hand out bread crumbs when we welcome a new employee, that way you can find your way out.”
    “Get out of my head, seriously.”
    He turned and looked at me curiously. Oops.
    “I mean, I was totally just thinking that.”
    I was rewarded with a smile.
    “Great minds and all that. We’re almost to our area.”
    What seemed like a few miles later he stopped before a corner office that had huge windows on both sides of the wall with amazing views of Boston seaport district. The door closed behind me and I was shocked how quiet the office was. All of the hustle and bustle from the newsroom outside the door went silent as the door closed. The sound of a saxophone softly playing filled the room and I was shocked at how quickly I relaxed in this office.
    His desk was huge, clunky and worn. No sleek edges, no glass topper to protect it. There were scratches and dings, enough to let you know that this was an older desk, possibly an antique, and a piece of office furniture that was there to be used, not admired from a distance. His leather office chair was faded from the sunlight and cracked from years of use and abuse. The groan the chair made was audible as Jenkins lowered himself in it. This room was heaven and everything I wanted for myself. Life goal.
    “Ok, Jensen, let’s get the boring paperwork stuff done. Normally I would send you down for a week long orientation with the other interns, and run you by our Human Resources department, but you will learn more