Miriam caught the travel bug during her first international trip to Beijing, China for the 2008 Summer Olympics. After completing her B.A. in Justice, Law, and Criminology and minor in Spanish from American University, she embarked on a 3-month backpacking trip to South America. Miriam believes living abroad is the best way to gain confidence and discover one’s true self.
What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory... now, that is a hard one! I would have to stay the entire 4-day trek from the city of Cusco to Machu Picchu. My two friends and I went with a tour company that led the way (on-foot) to the old Incan city. Throughout the trek, we did every adventurous sport – rafting, hiking, biking, and canopying. We also had the chance to meet locals and study how they grew their own coffee beans.
It was great to learn more about the native cultures in this area of Peru. I even learned some Quechuya words! After hiking two hours up the mountain to Machu Picchu, my friends and I crashed and took a nap on a little patch of grass next to some alpaca. We ended up sleeping for an hour – now, who can actually say they slept at the "Forbidden City?" I can!
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I certainly have changed since working at The Intern Group. I believe I have become a more accepting person from interacting with people from all around the world. I speak with people from different cultures on a daily basis. While I have the opportunity to introduce them to other cultures, each participant at The Intern Group teaches me more about his or her way of life back home. For those reasons, I am an overall more open and accepting person.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
I hear many success stories from the participants that do our program. It's great to speak with those who have completed their program and inform me that they acquired a new job or internship, that they went on to further their education, or that they have started traveling the world.
My favorite story is hearing how one participant received a full time job in a highly distinguished marketing company. This participant actually had the interviews while she was still on our program. She noted to me that her internship experience on the New York program helped her land the dream job she's always wanted. When she finished her time with The Intern Group, she returned home with a job already lined up. Now those are the best types of stories I can hear!
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
This is a tough decision as all of our programs are amazing and unique in their own ways. Am I not allowed to say "all of them?" Let me narrow down my decisions of the destinations I would NOT do for a very valid reason.
I would not do the United States programs that The Intern Group offers because I am originally from the East Coast. Plus, I have already been to California, Chicago, and New York before – I would really want to go somewhere else outside of my home country!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
A value at The Intern Group is making sure our programs bring together people of all nationalities, immerse them in new cultures, and inspire each participant to achieve their full potential. Our goal is that each participant gains professional skills, explores a new city, and gets outside of his/her comfort zone. Everyone should discover their true self while on the program.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
The biggest factor in being a successful company is when each employee understands and lives up to the organization's overall values and behaviors. Living up to the core beliefs of the company and putting the behaviors into practice is extremely motivating. As cheesy as it sounds, each co-worker needs to practice what the company preaches.
