As I conclude my internship at Pauline Book and Media Centre, I look back at this experience with immense gratitude and a newfound appreciation for the dedication, patience and skill that goes into running a bookstore. Something that started as a simple internship quickly became a journey of learning and growth. From my very first day, I was warmly welcomed by the staff. Sister Mary Joseph Ponatt: the General Manager, congratulated me on joining while Sister Abha: the assistant store manager greeted me with her kind smile. Anusha Akka: the receptionist showed me around the store and Jyothi Didi: a salesperson patiently guided me through my tasks. Then there was Kumar Sir, the store’s veteran with 27 years of experience whose humor made even the most mundane tasks enjoyable. The warmth and kindness of everyone in the store put me at ease.
One of the first skills I learned was crafting decorative flower bouquets for candles used in religious ceremonies. It seemed simple at first: rolling satin ribbons and attaching small handmade flowers but I soon realized the amount of patience and precision required. The slippery wax of the candles, the stubborn ribbons and the tiny metal stems pricking my fingers made me respect the effort behind each beautifully decorated candle. I improved my technique with time and also found creative ways to make the task fun such as timing myself and even walking around while assembling bouquets. My personal best: 85 flower bouquets completed in an hour while racking up 1758 steps.
Just as I felt like a pro at crafting bouquets, I was introduced to a new challenge: sorting and pricing rosaries. I thought this task would be easier but I was quickly humbled. The sheer volume of rosaries: crystal, thread and wooden, in all sizes and colors was slightly overwhelming. The process of detangling, arranging and pricing them was a true test of patience. I learned the hard way that double-checking everything is essential when I had to redo an entire batch of rosaries due to a mix-up in container sizes.
However, the experience taught me to be more meticulous and by the end of my internship, I had successfully arranged and priced nearly 20 packets of rosaries. Unpacking and organizing glass and acrylic globes, prayer cards, statutes, crosses and other items from new stock arrivals was oddly satisfying. Cleaning them, labeling prices and neatly arranging them on racks brought out my perfectionist side and the task became calming. Working with Kumar Sir and Jyothi Didi made everything more enjoyable with jokes and stories making the time fly by. However, the most rewarding part of my internship was assisting customers. Helping a six-year-old boy pick out a pictorial children’s Bible and seeing his excitement reminded me how small gestures can bring joy to others. The sense of independence and responsibility that came with working in a real-world setting was both scary yet fulfilling. This internship was more than just learning how a bookstore operates, it was about cultivating patience and sharpening my attention to detail. I am deeply grateful to the entire team at Pauline Book and Media Centre for their guidance and kindness. As I leave, I carry with me not only new skills but also cherished memories of teamwork, laughter and personal growth.
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