We all know that summer is supposed to feel relaxing. There are less responsibilities, no project deadlines, no running to catch the Wolf Line to a morning class. The pressure is off, just for a little bit. But as NC State students, and as college students in general, we all know that the idea that our summer vacations are to be completely relaxing, is nothing short of a myth.

During the summer, we are all encouraged to take summer classes, to get summer jobs, complete volunteer work, and of course, what we hear we are supposed to do more than anything, get an internship. In today’s job market, internships are not just a good idea, in order to succeed, they are virtually necessary.

When I was completing my own search for a summer internship, I was dismayed to find that so many of the opportunities I wanted were unpaid and for college credit only. This is a problem, not just for me, but for almost everyone.

Internships are highly competitive, and can be stressful to obtain. When you factor in the fact that so many internships are still unpaid, it makes the significance placed on them, even more frustrating.

I remember, just last fall, sitting in the dorm room of my best friend as she counted up all of her money and bills on an excel spreadsheet, and struggled to conceive how she would pay for an unpaid internship opportunity in the Spring. She was a working student, who needed her job to pay her bills and expenses. She also knew that the internship was almost necessary in her hopes of securing a job upon graduation.

This spring, as I began applying for summer internship opportunities, I had similar trepidations. I realized that the only way that I could accept an internship is if it were paid, or if I continued to work long hours at my part time job to compensate for it. I could not afford to do otherwise. I watched as my other friends applied to summer opportunities, and made the same realizations.

In fact, most of the students at NC State, and other universities that I know, either can’t afford to take an unpaid internship position, or have struggled greatly in doing so. From what I have seen, I believe that unpaid internship opportunities are a detriment to working-class and marginalized students. They are a privilege for people who can afford to do unpaid work, and a struggle for students that can’t. I do not believe they should exist at all.

According to the Northeastern University Political Review, “In 2015, 60.8% of students participated in paid internships, while 39.2% took unpaid positions.”

The website also states that all internships end up costing all students money in the long run. It states that, “The average cost of completing a summer internship in a major metropolitan city is over $6,000. Even paid interns make, on average, less than $6,000 during a summer semester.”

A student’s success should not depend on whether or not they have an extra six thousand dollars in their bank account. It should depend on their abilities and drive.

So many students that I know are on scholarships, or they have student loan debt, or they have to work. Unpaid internships marginalize these students based on their income, even if they are highly qualified for the position. This gives a leg up to students with money, regardless of their abilities.

Luckily for students at NC State, there are a ton of resources to help find paid internships. You can visit the career center, go online to e-pack to look for them, or sign up for the internship class in the summer, spring or fall. 

But, the reality is that even with these options, unpaid internships are still a hindrance to students who are otherwise qualified and worthy of them. 

I am not saying that students shouldn’t appreciate all that internships give them: experience, connections and new skills. What I am saying is that in order to level the playing field in society, and ensure that students from all backgrounds are given equal opportunities, all internships should be legally required to offer at least minimum wage or a stipend.

So much of the success of NC State students, and college students everywhere is placed on the value of internships. In order for every students to reach for that success, it first has to be attainable.