Hi, guys! This past weekend my little sister was visiting home from College and I was reminded of the advice I gave her before she left this past summer. Besides the advice that stands the test of time (i.e. work hard, get involved, study, meet new people) I told her to absolutely make sure to 1) study abroad and 2) get an Internship. So, I’m here today to give you all the same advice! If you’re reading this and you’re in college… study abroad and get an internship! I did both at the same time and both experiences are invaluable/ beyond anything you can learn in the classroom. I’ve given it some thought and came up with the top 3 reasons to do both.
1) You will be forced out of your comfort zone in the best way possible.
Okay, so this might sound terrifying at first but I can promise you it’s totally worth it. College is basically defined as a time of growth and exploring who you are and what you want to do with your life. How exciting! And with that comes new opportunities and experiences that can seem a little uncomfortable at first, but will be great. I remember receiving an internship placement with the coordinator of Special Olympics Australia Junior Games. I had arrived in Newcastle, Australia two weeks prior so I was still acclimating myself to my new home. Then I found myself on a train, about to meet a lady with whom I’d be working alongside for the duration of my time there (five months)! To say I was nervous would be an understatement but now, looking back, it was one of the best things I have ever done. I gained such valuable work experience and made a lifelong friend (I’m still in touch with my internship supervisor today). Had I not pushed myself out of my comfort zone – first by traveling to Australia and then by accepting an internship – I would have never had the experiences I am so grateful for today.
2) You will meet new people which is amazingly fun and beneficial because they’ll more than likely have the same interests/goals as you.
Do you remember that feeling in your first college class? Best described as mixed emotions – unsure of what to expect, excited for what was to come, hoping to make friends? I wish I could go back and tell myself in that moment: “look around this room. You’ll see most of these faces for the next 4 years because you all have the same major. RELAX.” This can be similarly applied to starting an internship and studying abroad. When you start either experiences, you may not know anyone. Don’t panic! You’ll slowly but surely meet new people and chances are they’ll have similar interests as you! This is true with an internship because you’ll have the same career goals as others. This is also true while Studying Abroad because like your home college, you’ll be in classes with people in the same major. Common ground is much more common than you may think. Have fun with it!
3) You will have experiences that make not only great stories for years to come, but also unique conversations for things like job interviews and networking.
My favorite internship experience was here at WORX when I was a marketing intern my last semester of college. This agency is a fun working environment that also fosters continuous learning of new skills. How could you ask for more? I’m sure to always remember my time here and reference it for future opportunities to come! The same goes for my time studying abroad. When you’re learning a new culture, a new way of life, you’re bound to have interesting moments and hilarious stories. Then they become what I like to call “back-pocket stories” to share during job interviews and while networking within your career path. It helps with the small talk while also giving the person you’re talking to a better understanding of what you’ve already done thus far!
So, you guys, I hope you found some value in this post because as much as I had a great time reminiscing on my college days (lol) I want it be useful for current students! Take advantage of career centers, academic advisors and study abroad centers while you have them. They’re great resources that will help your dreams of living in Italy for a semester or landing an internship with ESPN become a reality! I’ll leave you with some deep quote that always seems to circulate social media… “in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” Good luck and HAVE FUN!
