"I'm at Work!"

by Evan Kaufman, Intern Strategic Marketing Group

Recently at AMP the intern staff was tasked with a corporate scavenger hunt. We split into two teams, were given a packet of cryptic puzzles and had two hours to do our best Dan Brown impressions. Two teams, one goal – victory (and, of course, the other secret goal – public shaming of other interns and requisite gloating.)

Armed with company knowledge, insatiable youth and digital cameras we solved clues, cracked codes, and ran around the neighborhood. It was fun, informative and involved fetching food. Basically, everything an internship experience should be.

I remember one moment in particular. Sprinting, a box of pastry in my hands, fellow interns behind me in flying V formation. I look up just in time to see a friend watching quizzically from the sidewalk. Without dropping stride I shout an explanation, “I’m at work!” And then we were gone, gazelles in business casual, disappearing into the rich tapestry of the city, for just a bit more job experience…

I often shout that now – “I’m at work!” Randomly, at my desk. It’s easy to forget. When I’m composing top-line ideas for a project or engaging in a particularly precipitant brainstorm; stylizing a deck, or just sitting in on a meeting. This is “work.” I guess the invigorating thing is that, like our recent scavenger hunt, it rarely feels that way.