I chose MIA because my university shared an internship opportunity and I also got recommended by my advisor. I thought the internship will be interesting experience to do and it can help to develop on what I'm currently studying. Another reason I chose this program because I was able to travel around in Thailand and, at the same time, gaining work experience.
Alumni Spotlight: Jasmine Elizabeth Sawkins
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Jasmine is studying at Webster University Thailand. Majoring in Marketing and minoring in Media and Psychology. She will be graduating in May 2019 and, before she graduates, she decided to sign up with MIA and gain some work experience before she finishes school.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
My university advisor helped me to improve my resume and giving advice what I should do before taking the internship and during the internship. Such as I should do research about the internship and what should I expect to get out of this internship. Things I have to organise on my own would be the transportation, but transportation in Bangkok is so easy. It is not even a problem to get around.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
One advice is don't be afraid to try new things. For example, in Thailand there might be a lot of food that is unfamiliar to people who is living in the UK or other places. Getting out of your comfort zone once in a while will do you good and you will not regret it.
I was a bit scared to try new things, especially when it comes to food. However, I took that mindset off by just doing it, I'm already here might as well try it. After that, I never regretted it.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Normal work hour which is 5 days of 8 hours of work. Every day is filled with different works and never got bored of it. I'm mainly doing the digital marketing in here. Such as I will take videos and pictures around Thailand and sharing it online. Create posters and events for the program. Every day I get to do something that I enjoy doing and every day I'm learning something new.
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 what if I didn't fit in here. I was excited going abroad, but at the same time I was scared that I might not fit in the culture here. However, when I arrive, my fear disappear. Everyone is so friendly here, everyone is willing to help out, teaching me all the cultures and taking me around in Thailand. Now looking back at my fear, I was scared of changing and stepping out of my comfort zone. That's is why everyone should get out of the comfort zone once in a while.
Write and answer your own question.
After you traveled around to different places, you would feel like a different person. Also capturing all the memories is the best. I was able to show my friends and family back home how much I'm doing here and how much I have grown. By going abroad can actually make you more independent and more mature, which is something can't gain easily by staying at the same place. You have to take care of yourself in a place the language is different and culture is different. Learning a bit of Thai also helped me a lot by getting around.