Today was the first day I embarked on my apprenticeship journey. The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the horizon, but my heart was anything but warm.
It was racing with nervous anticipation. This was a pivotal moment, and I couldn't help but wonder if I was ready.
What eased my nerves, however, was the presence of 11 of my friends, all from the same school but different classes.
We were in this together, and that camaraderie provided a comforting backdrop to the day ahead.
As the clock ticked towards our meeting time, we gathered and set off to our apprentice place. Upon arrival, we were greeted by our mentor, who also happened to be the company's rector.
He exuded an air of authority, but there was a kindness in his eyes that put me at ease, if only for a moment.
First of all, the mentor explains a little bit about what will be done at the apprenticeship site and each person's duties then after that he wasted no time and immediately handed us a few of tests, each one more challenging than the last.
These tests encompassed a variety of disciplines such as written assessments that probed our knowledge, photography assignments that tested our creative flair, design challenges that pushed our artistic boundaries, video tasks that required us to think in frames, presentations that scrutinized our communication skills, and narrative evaluations that delved into our storytelling abilities.
Our mentor began by narrating a fascinating story about the "Zettelkasten" method of writing. The narrative was filled with important insights into this unique writing approach.
Once our mentor had concluded his tale, we were allotted a mere 15 minutes to transform the story into our own words, in our own language.
Precision and speed were the order of the day. Concentration was paramount as we absorbed every word he had shared, translating it into a written form. The clock was our relentless companion, ticking away as we poured our thoughts onto paper.
The second test was a photographic challenge, an opportunity to capture the world around us through our lenses. With no specific theme imposed, we were free to photograph anything that caught our eye.
Many of us took the liberty to edit and enhance our photos, striving for perfection. Balancing composition, lighting, and clarity became the focus of our efforts. Time was limited, only 15 minutes to produce our best work.
Next up was the graphic design test. Our task was to create a poster for the upcoming August 17th competition, scheduled for Thursday, August 9th at 08:00 AM.
The posters were to be visually appealing and carry a clear message or motto, all within 20 minutes. Some of us opted for animated designs, while others used realistic photographs from past competitions.
It was a creative frenzy as we strove to craft eye-catching posters.
The fourth test was a video assignment. We were tasked with creating an explanatory video about the "Zettelkasten" writing method, based on the material we had learned earlier.
The video could be a recording with assistance or an animated illustration. We had a more generous 30 minutes to complete this task, and video editing was optional, depending on our preferences.
The fifth test was a presentation. Our task was to create a voice note or audio recording explaining the "Zettelkasten" writing method, all in just 10 minutes. It was a test of our ability to convey information concisely and effectively.
The final test was a narrative writing task. Each of us received an A4-sized sheet of folio paper and a unique set of instructions. We began by folding the paper in half without tearing it.
Then, we noted down our personal details like name, address, date of birth, PC specifications, phone specifications, and our most frequently used applications. Afterward, our mentor posed a question that required us to write a narrative about our individual futures.
The hours seemed to fly by as we immersed ourselves in these assessments, our pens scribbling, cameras clicking, and creative juices flowing. Time's relentless march culminated in the moment of truth when we handed our completed tasks to our mentor.
Watching him review our efforts was like holding my breath underwater; I could only hope that I had done enough to make a positive impression.
The silence was deafening as he deliberated, assigning scores that felt like a verdict on our abilities.
Finally, the moment arrived when he began to announce the groupings. Like pieces of a puzzle, we were fitted together according to our strengths and aptitudes, each group a unique blend of talents and potential.
I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation as I discovered which path I would be treading in this new journey.
As the day drew to a close, my heart brimmed with anticipation for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. This was just the beginning, and I knew there would be many more firsts to come on this apprenticeship adventure.