Although summer seems so far off in the distance, it will be here before we know it. And though that is a great thing, it is also somewhat unfortunate. With summer comes the necessity of a summer job.

Although I have spent the last few summers of my life as a babysitter, I have decided that it has come time to find a “real” job. And for this upcoming summer, that may mean an internship. But what exactly is an internship? To me, it just sounds like a fancy way to say that you will be getting coffee for other working people and doing their dirty work. I know that is not true for all internships, but it’s hard to know what to expect until you are actually there.

Though I don’t actually have an internship lined up yet for the summer, I have started to think about it. And I have many questions. Should I try to find one in a field that I may potentially want to be in? Or should I find one with some big-shot company that will look good on a resume? Should I shoot for the stars, or just stay local? I really have no idea. I don’t even know if I want to have an internship over the summer, or if I should instead find a job at J. Crew where I can get good employee discounts and stock up on cute clothes.

Realistically, you don’t have to have an internship after your first year of college. If you know what you want to do and have a company that you think would be great to experience, then go for it. However, if you need a little bit more time to figure everything out, then that is alright as well. Sometimes it may be best just to collect a bunch of ideas and look into internships in preparation for two summers from now. There’s no need to rush into it if it’s not something that you feel super great about.

Starting off with a smaller and more local business may be a good booster step for future bigger internships. Trying right away for a big corporation with lots of applicants may leave you in a hole. Make sure you have options and look for a variety of positions. Also consider whether or not it would be paid! There is lots to consider when looking for internships.

If having an actual job and earning money doing something else is a better fit for you, don’t be worried to just do that. The choice is yours, but don’t let the idea of an internship scare you! After doing some research, it already seems more plausible to me and less like a scary monster waiting in the closet for me.

[Editor’s note: Scripps has funding options for students seeking unpaid internships or research opportunities.  You can learn more about CP&R’s summer internship grant application process here, and be sure to check out Scripps Fellowships, too.]