Blog

My experience in Shanghai with Connect-123 during the summer of 2019 brought me memories that remain close to my heart to this day, more than a year later. From meeting new people, with whom I still keep in touch with, to trying new things like rock climbing! and finding out more about my passions, like […]

No one has ever grown by staying inside their comfort zones. If you want to develop as a student—and as a future professional—you have to ask yourself how you want to become uncomfortable. That’s exactly what we do when we go to the gym.  If we keep the treadmill at the same settings or lift […]

One of the best decisions I have ever made was to intern at a VC-backed software firm in Buenos Aires through Connect-123 in the summer of 2010. Little did I know how profound an effect this experience would have on the rest of my life. That summer, I stepped far out of my comfort zone. […]

Virtual internships really are amazing things when they are organized the right way.  So much is dependent upon the quality of the work placement.  When we get to know the students well as individuals, we can place them in cultures they want to experience, in organizations that operate within their career interests, and on projects […]

It was the start of the new 2020 year, and my biggest problem was deciding whether to go to Ireland or South Africa during my search for a human rights internship through Connect-123. Of course, the Connect-123 coordinators guided me through my choices and helped me realize my values and career goals, so I was […]

In a recent blog post, we took a look at positive career development and how we cultivate career competencies by drawing upon our distinctive strengths.  A key takeaway is that the right career and job is a kind of gym, exercising what we do best and find most meaningful.  The idea of positive career development […]

So, you’re thinking about an internship or perhaps you’re wrapping one up.  Now it’s time to launch your career.  How can you make that launch as successful as possible?  How can you best stand out in a competitive job market?  Here are three things that we’ve found to be super important at Connect-123: 1) Building […]

In May of 2020, my dreams of interning in a different country were shattered when COVID-19 hit. All study abroad programs were cancelled, and many in-person internships in my hometown were postponed. I thought I wouldn’t have the opportunity to intern before I graduated until I received an email from my school about Connect-123’s virtual […]

I’m looking forward early next month to doing a presentation for the alumni of Connect-123.  For 14 years, students have studied abroad through Connect-123 and learned valuable skills that they’ve used in their subsequent career development.  Now, as alumni, they can still Connect with one another and participate in up-to-date learning.  What’s more, the alumni […]