Why did you choose this program?
I chose this program because it was available in my school, the University of California, Santa Cruz, for psychology and cognitive science majors. I was eager to both study abroad and visit a new place, while gaining meaningful, hands-on experience in the field of psychology. As soon as I learned about the opportunity, I applied right away and felt excited to get started. Having never been to Ireland before, I was also drawn to experience a new culture and explore Dublin while continuing my academic and professional development over the summer. Additionally, I heard great things about the program.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The program and my university were very supportive throughout the process. They assisted in helping me contact internship opportunities, refining my resume, and navigating logistical details before and during the program. In addition, the program organized regular meetings focused on professional development, where we learned more about workplace environments, expectations, and career growth. The staff were also consistently available and in contact whenever support or guidance was needed, checking in with everyone throughout the experience. On my own, I worked at the internship, explored Dublin, Ireland, and completed necessary course work.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
One piece of advice I would give to someone going on this program is to fully embrace the experience of being abroad. Take advantage of every opportunity offered, attend events, shows, or activities in the city where you are staying. Be open to trying new foods, talking with locals, and exploring the city as much as possible. Overall, immerse yourself in the culture and make the most of being in a new environment, as those experiences are just as valuable as the academic and professional ones. An additional piece of advice is to fully take advantage of your internship, ask questions, hang out with coworkers, get involved, attend events, etc.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
An average day for me typically involved going to my internship in the mornings and staying until the afternoon, where I gained hands-on experience in an awesome workplace. I truly loved my internship and my coworkers, which made going to work each day very enjoyable and rewarding. n the evenings, I spent time with friends from the program, exploring Dublin, trying new restaurants, and attending local events. My weeks felt well-balanced between work, academics, and social activities. On weekends, I often traveled beyond the southern part of Dublin, where I was staying, to explore other parts of Ireland and see as many new places as possible.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
Going into the program, my biggest fear was not making many new friends and feeling like I would only be working and then returning home without fully experiencing life abroad. However, that fear quickly changed once the program began. I was very fortunate to meet people I genuinely enjoyed spending time with, exploring the city, and traveling with. To overcome this fear, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone by talking to everyone in the program and making an effort to connect with locals as well. Through these experiences, I realized that being open, proactive, and willing to step outside of what feels comfortable can lead to meaningful connections and make the experience far more fulfilling than I initially thought. In addition, since I fractured my ankle about a week and a half before the program started, I was worried that my injury would limit what I could do or prevent me from fully participating in the experience. I soon realized that I was able to do everything I needed to do, including commuting to and from work, spending time with friends, and exploring Dublin. What helped a lot was the accommodating friends, coworkers, supervisors, and people in Dublin, which really helped my experience be its fullest.
What’s the best way to balance your internship responsibilities with exploring a new city?
I found that creating a routine really helped. Mornings and afternoons were dedicated to the internship, which gave structure to my days. Evenings and weekends were free for exploring, trying new foods, and traveling. Planning ahead and being intentional with your time allows you to fully benefit from both the professional and cultural aspects of the program and being in a different place as well.
