The 1996 Mishap in Tech Intern History

Welcome to a wild tale from the tech trenches! This week, we're diving into a classic intern blunder that could have derailed a career before it even began. Meet our reader, affectionately known as 'Kerry', who found himself in a tight spot during a 1996 internship at a well-known tech giant.

The Setup: A Historic Internship

Back in high school, Kerry landed this coveted internship, a golden opportunity to witness software creation firsthand in a bustling 'build lab.' Alongside another intern, he was eager to soak up knowledge and contribute, but little did they know they were about to embark on an unexpected adventure.

Introducing the Beast: The Two-Gigabyte Drive

One day, a new, high-capacity hard drive—two whole gigabytes of cutting-edge technology—arrived for testing. To Kerry, this was no ordinary drive; he believed it was an expensive piece of equipment, and anticipation was in the air.

The Blunder: Brute Force Tactics

The installation process turned out to be not as straightforward as expected. With teenage ingenuity, Kerry and his fellow intern faced the challenge head-on. They noticed the drive wouldn't slot in correctly, and instead of seeking help or proper guidance, they applied brute force, pushing and pulling in a frantic bid to fit the drive. Spoiler alert: It didn’t end well.

The Crash: A Hard Lesson Learned

In a spectacular moment of failure, the drive finally broke free from its restraints, hurtling out of the rack. It fell an impressive 20 inches, landing with a mighty thud that echoed through the lab. Their efforts had resulted in a dead hard drive, and the reality of their misadventure quickly set in.

The Aftermath: A Lesson in Corporate Indifference

When reporting the mishap to their boss, Kerry was shocked by the nonchalant response: 'It just... doesn't work? OK, just order another one.' This encounter taught him a crucial lesson about how businesses often handle minor expenses and the lessons interns could glean from their blunders.

Final Thoughts: What We Can Learn

Kerry’s story is a humorous reminder of the growing pains of tech apprenticeships. It underscores the importance of proper training and guidance—because sometimes, even the brightest stars have to learn firsthand how NOT to install a hard drive.