This is the view I’m used to seeing every day.

And this is the view I’m now seeing.

Talk about a change of scenery. My internship has wrapped up and I’m back in good ole’ upstate New York. But I must say I miss the city that never sleeps. So in honor of my NYC withdrawals, I took a look back on my unforgettable summer (for the millionth time) and created a list of the top five things I did during my internship. Stay tuned for my top five things about being in the city!

#1. Seeing my byline.

The coveted goal of a frugal editorial intern, I dreamed of seeing my name in print or on the web before the summer was over. I did a lot of work for FITNESS and you’ll see the fruits of my labor in upcoming issues. My name won’t be attached to everything, but I love the rush I get when I flip through the glossy pages and know that I researched, edited, designed or wrote the content. When my name is there for everyone to see, well, that’s like walking into an air-conditioned building on a 103-degree day in NYC. So be on the lookout for my name in the next few months. But if you just can’t wait, take a gander here.

#2. Interviewing Jillian Michaels and Jackie Warner.

Do I really need to say more? I’m obsessed with “Biggest Loser,” and Jackie Warner is a huge fitness celebrity. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be able to interview these two. They’re both extremely helpful and didn’t have diva syndrome. Be proud of me, too — inside my head, the “Oh my god, I’m such a huge fan” thoughts were racing a mile a minute, but I was calm and professional on the outside. Both were shocked when they later found out I was an intern because of my poise and professionalism. Score!

#3. Testing out fitness classes, equipment and events.

You know your job is awesome when you get paid to work out, test the latest machine, or go to press events in brand new Nike gear and run with four-time Olympic gold medalist, Michael Johnson. I love that on most days, I didn’t have to schedule in a workout because it was already a part of my work day.

#4. Finding a blue jump rope.

It sounds weird, right? I spent one day scouring all of NYC looking for a blue jump rope for a photo shoot. Living in the concrete jungle, you’d think I’d be able to cross this off my to-do list in under 10 minutes. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy. After checking eight sports stores and four toy stores, I decided to get creative. Not willing to fail, I went to the gym I had a membership with and “borrowed” the rope. Members aren’t allowed to take equipment out of the gym, but you can rent them out to use during your workout.  So in exchange for my ID, I slyly slipped the rope in my gym bag and waltzed out of there. The risk of being caught was worth it when I saw the overjoyed face of my editor. Besides, I returned the rope at the end of the day, no harm, no foul.

#5. Working with amazing people.

Never underestimate the importance of your co-workers. There wasn’t a single person I didn’t enjoy working with at FITNESS. Each one was imperative to the development of my skills and the success of my work. Working at a magazine is like being a part of a well-oiled machine. You have to rely on a lot of people to complete one project successfully. If you don’t enjoy working with them, you won’t end up with a great product. Always strive to say that you never worked a day in your life. This summer, that statement couldn’t have been more true. The fact that I was paid was just icing on the cake.