Lea and Steven at Connect-123 did a great job not only placing me in an internship for this summer but also keeping up with me to ensure things were running smoothly. They were always available if I had any questions and were a huge support system while I was in Dublin. Now that I have completed my internship, I can say that I have gained valuable skills and experience that have allowed me to propel myself forward in my future career path. I am excited to use these new competencies to excel in the workplace.

I loved Dublin because of how personable the people were and how much there was to do. Travel was easy and there was so much to explore in your free time out of work. The job itself taught me so much and it was a great experience that showed me what I might want to do later in life for work! Another piece I enjoyed was how easy it was to travel to other countries and the flexibility I was provided in order to explore Europe and see the various different cultures. Overall I loved my experience and I would highly recommend this internship for others!

As an International Relations student, I was looking for the best option to make an internship abroad. I’m interested in global issues such as: international law, nationality, migration and human rights. Connect 123 made their best and I started to work in a non-profit organization which helps immigrants and refugees to get the naturalization in Dublin, Ireland. This experience is by far one of the best I’ve had as it helped me to grow professionally and personally. First of all, I was able to work in a multicultural environment. Each of my colleagues had different nationality; it helped me to discover new ways of working. Apart from that, I put in practice and strengthened the acquired knowledge during my studies, as I had to learn about Ireland’s immigration law and international treaties regarding asylum seekers and refugees. On a personal level, working with refugees and immigrants who are experiencing really difficult situations, made me realize that we need to raise consciousness when treating them in our countries. Every day they taught many things about life and to stay positive no matter what. On the other hand, knowing Irish society’s idiosyncrasy helped me to be more disciplined. Connect 123 was there before, during and after my internship. They picked me up at the airport and got me to my place; they always were in contact with me to know how my internship was going, and made events for my social integration. I want to invite Latin American’s students and young people to live this experience and to make more presence internationally.

My internship in Dublin had to have been one of the most valuable times in my life. Right off the bat, I was impressed with the placement they got me. I'm a student studying recording arts and music production, and Connect was able to hook me up at one of the premier recording studios in Ireland. Once I arrived in Dublin, Nikki and Rosie were there to help me adjust to living abroad, and made sure I was comfortable in my internship by giving me guidance and encouraging me to proceed independently. During the course of the summer, I was able to learn and excel in my internship, as well as travel all over Europe and see places I never would have otherwise. Connect-123 was sure to provide killer events and trips as well to help all of their interns explore Ireland to the fullest. I can't recommend Connect-123 enough!

After graduating college, I wanted to do a bit of travelling but also wanted to maintain a connection with my specialization. This is where Connect-123 came in. I wasn’t expecting them to find something that fit with my area of expertise because it’s not the most studied topic. However, they surprised me with a placement in a wonderful organization that allowed me to share my passion for astronomy. I will always be grateful for Connect-123’s hard work and dedication on finding me this internship in Dublin.

Dublin itself is a marvellous city with a vibrant atmosphere full of kind-hearted people. It’s difficult to walk down a street and not hear/see someone playing a musical instrument or entertaining passersby in some other way. I didn’t live in the city centre itself, but the public transportation system is very well laid out which made travelling quite easy. I stayed with a host family which was absolutely wonderful - I was able to delve right into Irish culture, and now I have a second family abroad!

The Dublin program coordinator is an absolute gem, and it’s obvious that she cares about your experience abroad from the first day you arrive. If you ever need anything or have an issue pop up, she is incredibly easy to reach and makes sure that you’re able to reach the other interns as well.

After completing my internship, I returned to the United States, and after a few months of anxious job-searching, I was fortunate enough to land my dream job as an outreach coordinator at NASA.

Thank you to Connect-123 for helping me to reach this huge goal of mine and for the stellar experience interning abroad!

It was an amazing trip for me! I had so much fun working in my internship. I loved being able to see and care for so many different animals and help find them new homes. It helped me get ready for living on my own and taught me how to deal with awful roommates. But mostly, going on trips with the rest of the students and doing activities with Nikki Madden was the highlight of the trip. She was fantastic and her trips with us to Galway and the escape room we did were the highlights of my trip.

When it came to making plans for my summer, I knew that I wanted an internship and I knew that I wanted the experience of travelling abroad. Connect-123 provided the perfect combination of both. Not only did I learn a lot from my work experience, but I had the best 2 months spent making friends and using every spare moment to explore Dublin city and the entire country of Ireland. Connect-123 organized events to meet new people and explore the city as well as tips on surviving a new internship in a foreign country. I can’t help but feel like I’ll be leaving a piece of myself in Dublin, and am already planning on when I can come back. Thanks to Connect-123, I was able to have one of the best summers yet!

If your looking to go abroad as well as gaining experience in your field of studies then Connect-123 is the program for you! I went to Dublin Ireland in the Fall of 2016 and my time spent there will be cherished for the rest of my life. The staff is extremely helpful in finding an internship to fit your interests. In the time I was their I interned for both a publishing company and a radio station working on tasks like promoting, journalism and presenting. Along with working in your field, Connect-123 also offers various opportunities to network with other people in the program as well as others who cross your path on this amazing journey! Thank-You Connect-123 for making this dream of going abroad become a reality.