I heard about The Intern Group through the Golden Key Honours group, and after doing a bit of research, decided that their program sounded like it would be a wonderful experience and began the application process.
Alumni Spotlight: Lauren Summers
Lauren Summers is a student currently studying Creative Media at James Cook University, in Queensland, Australia. During summer break, she participated in The Intern Group's New York program.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The Intern Group helped to arrange internship interviews with their many partner companies, as well as assisting with accommodation, visa application, and travel arrangements during the lead up to the program.
They also provided activities and workshops throughout the program where all the interns from all different sectors can meet, giving the program a real sense of community.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Make sure to participate in everything you can. Whether it's an Intern Group activity or one organized by co-workers, or even one you find for yourself, take every opportunity to immerse yourself in your surroundings. There's so much to see and do, both in New York City, and in the other Intern Group locations around the world.
Every opportunity is a chance to learn and grow -- take advantage of it!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
During the weekdays, the interns go to work at their companies, learning everything they can. Then, on the weekend, everyone gets together to go do something fun, whether it's a visit to a museum, or go on a sightseeing cruise, or check out the cultural hotspots of the city -- there's always something new and exciting.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was not being able to handle it. New York City is a pretty extreme jump from my hometown, and I was worried about being overwhelmed.
Fortunately, meeting with the other interns helped to set my mind at ease. I wasn't the only one in a strange new world, I had other people here sharing my experience, who I wouldn't have known otherwise.
The Intern Group staff were also extremely helpful, happy to answers questions or break down the essentials of the city for anyone who needed them. It made it much easier and less confusing to navigate - now, I see being thrust into this enormous city as one of the most exciting opportunities of my life, armed with the knowledge that I can work through the overwhelmingness of it.