Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone: My Journey as an Audible Intern
By Zionna Marshall, Prelude Alum ‘24
Going into my internship at Audible, I was both excited and nervous. I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to intern at such a selective program, but I couldn’t help but to allow my lack of professional skills to fill me with doubt and second guess my ability to succeed. Walking into the office for the first time, I was struck by the fast-paced environment and unintentionally placed a huge amount of pressure on myself to excel. Finding out I had been placed in the Tax department, only amplified my worry. From my perspective, tax work sounded rigorous, and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up.
Fortunately, those feelings of intimidation didn’t last long. I quickly discovered the welcoming nature of Audible’s culture, as the employees I encountered around the office, whether they were fellow interns to seasoned professionals, seemed genuinely invested in helping me succeed. This support system made all the difference, helping me shake the mindset that I initially came in with.
My manager throughout my time at Audible, Laura Pomeroy, played a major role in helping me shift my perspective. From the beginning, she prioritized ensuring that my work wasn’t just about contributing to the Tax department, but also something that could be meaningful to my professional growth. She often gave me useful pieces of advice, but there were some that really stuck with me. For example, she imparted on me that making mistakes and stepping out of your comfort zone are not just expected, but are also essential.
She reminded me that everyone starts somewhere, and that most of the professionals that were now mentoring me were once wearing my shoes. It’s easy to judge yourself harshly, especially when you’re new and eager to prove yourself. The reality is, no one expects perfection from someone just starting out. What people do expect is effort, an open mind to learning, and the courage to take risks, even if it doesn't always pan out the way you imagined.
This mindset shift changed how I approached my work and, ultimately, how I saw myself. Instead of being so discouraged by the fear of making a mistake, I trusted myself and stuck to the process. I allowed myself to ask questions, take on challenging tasks, and even mess up sometimes. Each mistake taught me something new, bringing me closer to the growth I wanted to see. Eventually, I realized that my mistakes weren’t failures, but instead, they were opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve.
It’s easy to let the fear of failure hold you back, but it’s important to acknowledge that growth can’t happen in the comfort of your safe zones. If you never build the courage to step outside of your bubble, you’ll never discover how much you’re truly capable of.
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for this experience. It taught me that although progress may look different for everybody, it's undoubtedly a nonlinear process. The key is to keep moving forward, even when it feels uncomfortable, because in the end you’ll probably walk away with some valuable knowledge. Take a chance, embrace the journey, trust the process, and most importantly, let your missteps shoot you forward.
Zionna Marshall is a currently a freshman at New Jersey Institute of Technology where she is majoring in Forensic Science.