If you thought you had a bad commute to the office, this intern definitely has it worse.
Sophia Celentano, 21, took to TikTok to reveal how she had landed a hybrid internship in corporate marketing – the only catch being it was more than 700 miles away from her home.
But the tenacious worker found a way around it and now takes a flight from South Carolina to the office in Parsippany, New Jersey, once a week.
Despite the grueling schedule, Sophia insists that it still works out cheaper than renting nearer her work.
Sophia Celentano, 21, took to TikTok to reveal how she had landed a hybrid internship in corporate marketing – the only catch being it was more than 700 miles away from her home
The commute involves her getting up at 3am, leaving for the airport at 4am, boarding a flight at 5.15am for a 6am take off, taking an Uber on landing and arriving at work around 8:30am
Sophia has detailed her complex commute on the video-sharing platform.
It involves getting up at 3am, leaving for the airport at 4am, boarding a flight at 5.15am for a 6am take off, taking an Uber on landing and finally arriving at work between 8:30am and 8:45am.
Then Sophia has to do the reverse journey to get home after 5pm.
Since posting about her intense commute, Sophia has received hundreds of comments from shocked viewers, with many stating how exorbitant the trip must be.
One user said: ‘Commuting? Babe that’s a business trip.’
Another added: ‘Babes there is no way that flying once a week is cheaper than renting a place with roommates outside of the city.’
And a third wrote: ‘Not a single job in the world is worth this.’
But, after receiving backlash about her commute, Sophia decided to set the record straight.
But, despite the grueling schedule, Sophia insists that it still works out cheaper than renting nearer her work
@sophiacelentano48
super commuting slay #corporateintern #marketingintern #nycintern #summerinternship #supercommuter #fyp #foryou
♬ original sound – Sophia Celentano
In a follow-up TikTok, she highlights that her commute is more cost effective than if she were to rent an apartment close to the New Jersey.
She tells viewers: ‘I am saving a good amount of money living at home I don’t have to pay rent and I don’t have to pay money for food.’
The aspiring marketing executive then gives a breakdown of her costs.
She says she spends around $100 on flights, $100 on Ubers and $25 on food and other bits on her once-a-week commute.
In total, this comes out at $2,250 for her ten-week internship.
Sophia then estimates what her costs would be if she were to live near the office in New Jersey.
She estimates she would pay $750 for rent per month if she was ‘lucky,’ $150 a week on food without the convenience of her parents’ fridge, and $50 on ‘extra stuff like gas.’
In total, these costs over a ten-week period would come out at $4,250 – saving her $2,000.
Along with saving money, she says other perks of her hybrid internship are being close to family and seeing more of her boyfriend.
Along with saving money, she says other perks of her hybrid internship are being close to family and seeing more of her boyfriend
@sophiacelentano48
hopefully this vid is a little less controversial 🤓 #fyp #foryou #corporateintern #adagencyintern #summerinternship #dayoneinternship
♬ original sound – Enzo
While the early wake-up call every Wednesday is tough, Sophia finds waiting around at the airport the more tedious part of her commute.
Then, when her working day is done, all she wants to do is get home but she must take an Uber, board a flight and then take a drive before she can get some well-earned sleep.
Many viewers also expressed concerns around Sophia’s commute and the impact of it on her mental health, but she reassured them that ‘it’s honestly not that difficult for me.’
She explained: ‘I’m used to traveling a lot, I like traveling a lot… I like adventure… I did a semester as sea. I lived on a ship for four months.
‘For some people it would be their worst nightmare but for me its fine.’
The college student told DailyMail.com that she wasn’t expecting her commuting videos to blow up as much as they did.
Explaining why she filmed them, she said: ‘My reason for filming them came more from a place of “it’ll be cool to look back on that one summer in undergrad when I commuted by plane for my internship” than “this will definitely make me go viral.”‘
Many viewers also expressed concerns around Sophia’s commute and the impact of it on her mental health, but she reassured them that ‘it’s honestly not that difficult for me’
@sophiacelentano48
Replying to @Maresa some more context for y’all
♬ original sound – Sophia Celentano
Sophia revealed that her fellow interns and managers ‘were definitely surprised’ when she told them how she was commuting, ‘but they never responded from a place of judgement.’
She added: ‘If anything they have made jokes like, “well I really have no excuse to come in person now if you’re coming from states away.”‘
Looking ahead to the future, the South Carolinian says: ‘I hope this internship has a positive impact on the opportunities I will have after graduating from the University of Virginia in media studies next spring.
‘A lot of people in my TikTok comments were surprised I was doing this for an internship, the lowest level of seniority in a company.
‘I would encourage them to realize that the job market is extremely brutal right now for young people. People who are completely qualified for positions and have degrees from top universities aren’t getting hired.
‘My internship could make a world of difference for what my life will look like post-grad. If I have to commute by plane in order to meet in-person expectations, so be it.’
