Olena Kononenko - Correspondent (trainee) of the "Money" project - about her internship

At the beginning of the internship, we were told: "If you become a different person after the program, then you did the internship correctly." Four months have now passed and I want to tell you what changes have happened to me and whether they happened at all.

I remember my first day in the investigative journalism department. After 15 minutes of searching for Delta, I was met at the entrance by a curator in an official suit. I then thought that there was a strict dress code and how good it was that I wore the dress.

She came and immediately informed me that I don't know anything, but I really want to learn.

I started working and getting to know the specifics of the job from the first day.

At first, in order to get rid of my complexes, I did social surveys on various topics on the phone.

Later, when I learned to hold the phone firmly so that it would not be knocked out or taken away, I was sent to the first filming. I still remember the feeling when I picked up the microphone with the "1+1" logo. He seemed to me like a staff with which I can talk about unusual things, ask provocative questions, make stories that people will see, and no matter how banal it sounds, they will change our country.

One person gave me advice that made me confident as a journalist. Because of my age and gender, I was afraid to ask provocative questions and I was looked at as a small child with a naive look.

They told me: "When you take the microphone, or you have a journalist's license with you, you are not a girl and it doesn't matter how old you are, you are a journalist with a confident look and you don't care what others say. There is a goal, then go, why stand?".

I did a lot of things for the first time on this program. The first interview, writing the text, editing, proofreading, many failed stand-up takes. I learned the pleasure when, after everything, you see your plot on TV and feel an incomparable pleasure. Euphoria, excitement - it makes you work even harder without feeling tired.

For me, the team that works on the program and the curator who helps me are my assistants. And it's also not an easy job, because sometimes he has to tell, well, supposedly banal things that I don't know. I believe that the curator is the person who will either repel the desire for journalism or, on the contrary, open you to its possibilities, show that a story can be born from an ordinary idea, which will be watched and discussed.

That's how I've been falling asleep for months and waking up thinking that today I have shootings, interviews and many meetings. And that makes me happy, because I know that this is my profession, my path. It is not easy, but that makes it even better.

Sometimes you have to take risks to get what you want. Just on the last day, quickly shoot a video business card, edit and send it. And when they call you, don't miss the call and pick up the phone.