Conclusions have always been my least favorite part of writing an essay. In high school, my teachers would oversimplify the process, insisting that it was as easy as answering the question: “So what?” It was never that easy for me; I spent countless nights staring dumbly at almost-finished essays, my fingers poised hopefully on the keyboard, those words playing on repeat in my head until they didn’t really sound like words anymore.
Now that my internship at Beaufort Books is drawing to a close, I’m once again forced to form some sort of conclusion, to confront those two seemingly unavoidable words: so what?
So what that I will never again sit at this cluttered desk or hear the pitter-patter of Schlitz’s paws scurrying across the floor? So what that I will never again have a conversation with Megan and Cindy about how scary Shel Silverstein’s beard is? So what that my internship is over? I can hear all my past English teachers in my head, prompting me: so what does it mean?
In these past few months, I’ve addressed more envelopes than I have in my entire life. But I’ve also read and reviewed submissions, researched countless marketing opportunities, and learned more about the publishing industry than I ever thought I would. And what that means to me is more than I can fit into the concluding paragraph of an essay or even a final blog post. I can’t find the words to express how much this experience has affected me; all I can tell you is that it has, and I’ve loved every little bit of it.
I’m so grateful to Beaufort for giving me this opportunity. I also want to thank all you lovely readers – if you actually exist, thank you for reading.
And to all future Beaufort interns who read this: good luck and have fun! (And try not to be too intimidated by the Midpoint office across the hallway…it’s really not as big and scary as it seems!)
Little Beau Peep
