Finding an internship as an international student is very tough. Especially when you don’t really have experience related to your field, but Connect-123 made it possible for me to learn and gain experience. It was overall very enjoyable and I am glad to have undergone such. Now I have gained some understanding about working in a company to some extent and not to mention, there are also many soft skills which I feel like have improved ever since. I am very grateful for Connect-123 for conmecting me with the host organization and for the wonderful opportunity!

I have had an amazing time during the virtual internship and have learned a lot of new technical and soft skills. I thought doing an internship virtually would be difficult because of the lack of in-person contact, but the process was smooth, and I got into the rhythm of things very quickly. I ended up really enjoying the remote aspect of the internship because I was able to manage my own schedule. I was also lucky to have a supervisor that supported my experience and quickly answered any questions I had. He gave helpful feedback and encouraged me to complete tasks at my own pace, preferring thoroughness over rushed work.

I had such an amazing and enriching experience at my internship site. I was fortunate enough to have incredibly outgoing mentors and colleagues who encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone. This supportive and friendly environment allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that I could highlight on my resume. I developed wonderful friendships with my cohort and met people from around the world throughout my time in Dublin.

My experience of living and interning in Dublin for 2 months was something that I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was a transformational period in my life that shaped who I am both personally and professionally. The tools and techniques that I learned while completing my Social Work internship at a therapeutic community programme will forever stay with me, and I can not wait to bring some of these practices along with me to wherever life takes me next. The beautiful places that I got to see, along with the many amazing people that I met along the way have given me memories that will have an eternal impact on my life. To those who are considering traveling abroad for an internship experience, I would say DO IT! Do not hesitate if this opportunity presents itself for you, as you will inevitably grow as a person and undoubtedly have a life changing experience. Ireland is a beautiful country, with so many amazing places to see and explore, as well as people to meet.

Thanks to Connect 1-2-3 and Michigan State University, I have had a fantastic experience living in Dublin. While living in Ireland, I had the pleasure of working as a research and policy intern with an incredible NGO. I felt immersed culturally, deepening my understanding of policy, international relations, community organizing, and development. Planned weekend trips and my own journeys allowed me to see the beauty that the world (and Ireland) offers me in my post-grad journeys. I am thankful for the time spent catering to my interests in selecting my internship, the people I've met and grown close to, and the experience of a lifetime. Sláinte!

Having graduated from college during the pandemic I was not sure how to go about the next steps of
my career. I came across Connect-123 while searching for internships online. The application process
is very straight forward, you simply fill out your desired field of study and your desired location. I
then had a phone call with Carla who filled me in on the internship process and how it works. She
asked me about my preferences and objectives for the internship and within only a few weeks she
was able to match me with an organisation.
Although my internship was remote, I was in frequent communication with the organisation, so I
never felt disconnected. Connect-123 also provided tips on how to stay connected and get the most
out of the internship. Carla also checked in on me during the internship and reassured me that
should I require any assiatance she would be there to help.
The internship itself was very rewarding I got to experience working in my chosen field of interest. I
was assigned tasks and got to conduct research for the company. I practised soft skills of long distance communication, time management and meeting deadlines. I learned technical skills such as
using google docs, creating designs and writing copy for the company. The people I worked with
were so welcoming and provided feedback along the way and were appreciative of my contributions.
Overall Connect-123 is a wonderful resource in not only in securing an internship but also providing
support along the way. Taking the next steps in your professional journey can be daunting but simply
knowing Connect-123 is there to support you makes it much easier.
I would highly recommend anyone considering an internship to apply through Connect-123.

I have just left Barcelona after two months, and I already want to be back! I had the best experience exploring a city so unlike where I grew up, and met introspective and wonderful people through my internship at a clinic for sick children, as well as through Connect 123. With like minded new friends, I discovered amazing restaurants throughout the city, visited nearby places up the coast, went to a number of amazing art museums, and even went to a FC Barca game which was the best! My friends were the best, and I am even going to travel with some over the course of my gap year! Over my time working, I was able to form bonds with children struggling with challenging medical issues, as well as their parents, and doing so brought me fulfilment and awe of how such great difficulties can shape a person. All of my colleagues and the families were such lovely humans, and most of all inspired me to not take anything for granted and work through challenges with an open and light mindset. An experience I never would have found on my own, working at the clinic brought me clarity on the things I could see myself doing in the future, and was lots of fun for improving my spanish skills. The Connect 123 activities were a blast, my personal favorite was a tapas night on one of the best tapas streets in Barcelona! I am headed to the University of Washington this September, and while I will be sad to return back to the states, I am doing so with new perspectives of the world, new abilities to make global friends, and a mile long bucket list of places I want to travel to next! Thank you Connect 123!

My experience with an internship through Connect 123 was incredibly exciting; I was ended up working in precisely the field I’m interested in and gained valuable experience that will help me pursue my career. I also really enjoyed the Connect 123 sponsored trips, especially to the cliffs of Moher. One of the best things about being abroad is the ability to travel further- I’ve been able to cheaply travel extensively around Ireland as well as in Germany and Italy. Another thing I appreciate is the automatic community I joined through Connect 123; it was really nice to arrive in a new country knowing that there were already some people I was connected with and who I could contact in case of emergency.