There's merit just in that

Uncertainty was a big factor in my first week at Lightbox. I had not yet been through college, an MBA, or years of working a real job. My ability to offer everything I could ironically was hampered by fear that I could not give enough. 

It did not take long, though, to understand that I was not actually selected for raw competence. I was there to give what most of the others could not. One of my projects at Lightbox during my internship was presenting to the team on “homegrown” substitutes for the recently banned TikTok. Despite the current stigma around the app, it was nothing but a full 180º sentiment. Before it was removed from app stores, it had a whopping 200M active users in India alone with an average daily use time of 40 minutes. Users weren’t just using the app normally. They were hooked. 

The appeal of TikTok did not exactly pertain to the Lightbox team. Based on what I saw, they were far too busy and mature for the type of content that is uploaded. I could tell them the statistics and factors that contributed to the incredible user experience, but they mostly wouldn’t really grasp why every other teenager was spending their afternoon mindlessly scrolling through one-minute videos on a daily basis.  

The “team” that is constructed anywhere is not based on a single factor, but is based on covering multiple facets. While I could not yet offer the experience, intellect or business-acumen that somebody like Sid or Anshika brought to the table, I did have the ability to relate to and understand the demographic that constructs the base of billion dollar industries. And most importantly, Lightbox had the fortitude to see where I could truly contribute. 

Finally, my ability to present my generation's point of view and the following discussion enabled the team to establish an understanding of what TikTok’s end means, and which companies are going to rise up in its place. For me, it was a great learning experience, good fun and most importantly a very meaningful internship.

I certainly wasn’t the smartest person in the room (or rather Zoom), but I had a lot to offer and I completed the team. There’s merit just in that.