The ideal intern is committed, creative, organized, ambitious

Hear the voice of Emily Weiss, who, in speaking of apprentices and their virtues, declared: “The ideal intern is committed, creative, organized, ambitious, independent, and able to crack a smile, whether meeting a celebrity or folding socks.” Though it appears as counsel for the young at work, this statement is rich with wisdom for all who strive in any path. For it reminds us that greatness is not found in grand moments alone, but in the spirit one brings to every task, great or small.

To be committed is to bind oneself not by chance or whim, but by devotion. The ancients taught that the one who finishes what they begin, even if unseen by others, builds a character stronger than iron. The apprentice who takes every duty seriously—whether speaking with kings or sweeping the floor—proves that they can be trusted with greater burdens. Commitment, then, is the foundation of mastery.

To be creative and organized together is a rare and powerful union. Creativity without order is chaos, and order without imagination is lifeless routine. But when the mind dares to dream and the hands know how to arrange, then both innovation and execution flourish. This is how the great inventors, poets, and leaders of history achieved lasting impact: by balancing vision with discipline, lightning with stone.

The quality of being ambitious is also praised, but not ambition for vanity’s sake. True ambition is the desire to grow, to push past limits, to strive for more than mediocrity. Yet Weiss tempers this with the call for independence—that one should not always wait for instruction, but act with courage, taking responsibility as though the work were their own. The ancients admired not the servant who obeyed blindly, but the steward who acted wisely when the master was absent.

But above all, she honors the ability to smile, whether in moments of glamour or in the most humble of tasks. To keep a cheerful spirit while meeting a celebrity may seem easy, but to smile also while folding socks is a mark of true strength. For joy that depends only on circumstances is fragile, but joy that endures in the ordinary is unshakable. The wise know that one who treats small tasks with dignity and lightness will also meet great moments with grace.

History gives us many such examples. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, who could meet with emperors in negotiation or sit to spin thread upon a humble wheel. His smile did not waver, for he knew that greatness lies not in what is done, but in how it is done. So too does Weiss remind us: whether before fame or in the quiet chores of daily labor, the ideal soul remains constant—dignified, joyful, and sincere.

Therefore, O listener, let this be your guide: be committed in all things, creative in thought, organized in action, ambitious in spirit, independent in will, and above all, quick to smile, whether the task before you is radiant or mundane. Do not scorn small duties, for they prepare the heart for greater ones. Do not lose joy in obscurity, for it is the secret to endurance.

Thus Emily Weiss’s counsel, though spoken of interns, rises as a lesson for all humanity: that the true measure of a person is not in titles or in fame, but in the spirit with which they approach each moment of their journey. Live so, and your life will be both noble and joyous, no matter how humble or exalted the task.