My Internship Abroad
Alicante, Spain

My internship with the Centro Superior de Idiomas was an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience. Over the course of four months, I developed a wide range of valuable skills while also experiencing significant personal growth that has continued to impact me well beyond the program. This experience provided me with a strong foundation for working in a professional environment, which proved especially useful in my subsequent role with the United States Congress. In addition to the professional development I gained, I also built meaningful relationships with my coworkers that I have continued to maintain since returning to the United States. Overall, this internship was an experience that I remain extremely grateful for and one that played an important role in shaping my academic and professional path.

​

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of my experience was the significant improvement I saw in my Spanish proficiency. Being able to converse with my coworkers for extended periods each day gave me a unique advantage in developing my conversational skills beyond the classroom. As a result, I saw rapid improvement in both my speaking and comprehension abilities, which were further reinforced through my academic coursework. By the end of the internship, I felt confident in my ability to hold conversations on a wide range of topics and to communicate effectively in professional settings. Having coworkers who were willing to support and encourage my language development made a meaningful difference in my progress. This immersive environment played a crucial role in elevating my fluency, and it is clear to me that this level of growth would not have been possible without this experience.

​

In addition to language development, this internship provided me with valuable international work experience that has strengthened my long term career goals. I have always been interested in living and working abroad, and this experience gave me firsthand exposure to what that might look like. While there was some initial culture shock associated with adapting to a new work environment, I was able to adjust and become comfortable over time. This process helped me develop a greater sense of adaptability and cultural awareness, while also giving me insight into aspects of international work that I had not previously considered. As a result, I gained a clearer understanding of the type of career path I would like to pursue after graduation. This experience also added a unique and valuable component to my resume, which I believe will help distinguish me in future professional opportunities.

​

I was extremely pleased with my overall USAC experience, and my internship played a central role in that. From the skills I developed, to the relationships I built, to the personal growth I experienced, I felt that I made the most of my time in Spain. Through this opportunity, I was able to engage more deeply with Spanish culture and gain insight into the professional environment in a way that many others did not experience. This allowed me to leave with a stronger understanding of what working in Spain full time could look like. Although it was bittersweet to see the semester come to an end, I left knowing that the skills, experiences, and connections I gained would stay with me long term. I am incredibly grateful that I chose to study abroad and would strongly recommend both studying abroad and pursuing an internship to anyone considering a similar path.