How a 19-Year-Old University Student Gained Her First Professional Experience

Classrooms introduce concepts. Workplaces reveal reality.

For Renara, that reality included preparing proposals, writing reports, organising information, and supporting the operational side of an international cultural event. These were responsibilities she had never associated with event management before, yet they quickly became some of the most valuable lessons of the internship. Looking back, she believes those experiences gave her a much broader understanding of the industry than she could have gained through lectures alone.

"I thought event management was mostly about the venue and organising the event itself. I learned so much more than that." The internship also introduced her to something equally significant: professional working life. This was the first time Renara had experienced a structured working environment with daily responsibilities, regular office hours, and the expectations that come with being part of a professional team. Each morning began with a briefing from her supervisor before she worked through the day's tasks, learning not only how projects move forward but also how colleagues communicate, collaborate, and support one another.

"This was my first professional job," she said. "I gained a lot of knowledge about how to be professional and how to work with other people, whether they were Indonesians or internationals."

For many young people, professionalism is often imagined as a collection of technical skills. In reality, it is equally shaped by communication, responsibility, reliability, and the willingness to continue learning. These qualities are rarely mastered overnight. They develop gradually through experience, guidance, and everyday practice. What made Renara's first experience particularly positive was the environment in which she learned. Whenever she felt uncertain about a task, there was always someone willing to answer her questions, explain the process, or offer support. Rather than feeling intimidated by entering a workplace for the first time, she found herself surrounded by colleagues who encouraged her to keep learning.

"I didn't really face any challenges because whenever I was confused, there were always people guiding me and answering every question I had." That sense of mentorship made an important difference.

A first internship should not be about expecting young people to know everything. It should provide a space where they can ask questions, make mistakes, develop confidence, and begin understanding how professional environments operate. By the end of her internship placement, Renara felt the experience had gone well beyond what she had expected. "I didn't think I would learn what I learned," she admitted.

Many students wait until their final year to gain practical experience, believing they need more knowledge before stepping into the workplace. Yet internships undertaken earlier often provide something just as valuable: information. They help students understand what motivates them, what skills they need to continue developing, and whether the profession they imagine is truly one they can see themselves pursuing in the future. For Renara, the internship strengthened rather than changed her ambitions. It confirmed her interest in event management while giving her a much clearer understanding of the work behind it. As she continues her university studies, she now does so with practical experience that will shape the way she approaches the remainder of her degree. Equally meaningful was the opportunity to gain that experience while spending time back home in Bali. Instead of choosing between enjoying her university holiday and investing in her future, she was able to do both. She reconnected with family, returned to the island where she grew up, and at the same time took an important first step into the professional world she hopes to join after graduation.

When asked what advice she would give other university students, especially those at the beginning of their degrees, her answer was immediate. "University is only three or four years. During your holidays, take the opportunity. Just do it." It is simple advice, but perhaps that is exactly why it resonates.

At nineteen, very few people have every answer about the future, nor should they be expected to. The university years are not only about earning a qualification. They are also an opportunity to explore, ask questions, test ideas, and discover where curiosity might eventually lead. For Renara, that journey began with one internship in Bali. It may have been her first professional experience, but it has already given her something that many graduates are still searching for: a clearer understanding of the career she hopes to build and the confidence to continue pursuing it.