I did a copy editing internship at The Grand Rapids Press this summer, and yes, it was great.

But if you want to walk the narrow road that leads to Intern Paradise, don’t get your stint the way I got mine.

I learned a hard lesson that can be summed up in two words: don’t wait.

Mistake No. 1: Turning down the unpaid internship.

Before transferring to Cornerstone, I was offered a summer web internship at The Daily News in Greenville, Mich. I didn’t take it because it was unpaid.

Not a great idea. Looking back now, the choice seems obvious. Even though it probably wouldn’t have completely satisfied my CU internship credits, it could have prepared me to write for Internet publications, and to post and manage online content. Let’s face it, folks, we live in an online age, and every shred of experience helps.

John Warren, Career Services director, said many CU students have similar judgment problems when it comes to planning for the future.

“A lot of our students don’t think about marketing themselves, or doing things that would prepare them for the workplace,” he said. “If you want to work with kids, go work with kids. If you want to work with the elderly, go be with the elderly. Whatever you decide, now is the time to start working on it.”

Mistake No. 2: Waiting too long to apply for internships.

This hearkens back to a question asked in the Sept. 30 Word on the Street: “Should sophomores be allowed to do internships?”

I believe they should. I am glad that even though junior status is technically required, our school is willing to allow sophomores do internships on a case-by-case basis, based on the student’s maturity and circumstances.

Alan Blanchard, associate professor of journalism and the Herald adviser, said he recommends freshmen and sophomores to work part-time, paid jobs related to their fields, even if it can’t satisfy internship requirements.

“You won’t get college credit,” he said, “but you’ll get that ‘green light’ or ‘red light’ communication in your heart, mind and spirit as to whether God has gifted you for a career in this area.”

So the more experience the better, right?

My problem: I waited until junior year. That might not have been so bad, but I waited until second semester of my junior year to start applying.

It was only by God’s provision that a spot was open on The Press copy desk. Because if it had been left to me, I quite possibly could have spent last summer twiddling my thumbs, finding myself six credits shy of a degree by May ’09.

And now I face the reality that I want to be a reporter, but have not had a reporting internship. That gap is hard to overcome.

So please, don’t wait. Don’t expect others to do the leg work for you. Get online and search for internships in your field, and start applying. Get an idea of what you want to do, and then shoot for internships that will hone that interest.

Take it from someone who learned the hard way.