Reviews

Alyssa W

Carson G

Overall, I had a very good time during my Internship; the work was interesting and informative, the experience of living in Dublin was one of a kind, and I was able to meet a lot of great people as well. I think it was a very valuable first step in my career, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone pursuing an alternate form of education. The process of applying and finding something that fit my needs was also quick and easy and helped form an early relationship with my employer, and the other interns.

Rowan R

The experience gained from my internship through Connect-123 was invaluable! The skills I developed in Dublin, Ireland were what led to a marketing agency offering me a full-time position. I unreservedly recommend Connect-123 to anyone looking to gain valuable internship experience abroad.

Chase B

With the help of Connect-123, I was able to make my dream of living abroad come true, while advancing my career goals. I got to work for a local newspaper on the outskirts of Dublin, and in my free time, I explored all of Ireland. I made some amazing friends and lifelong memories along the way. Connect-123 made a tricky process extremely easy, and the people really care about making your experience an exceptional one.

Kaylee S

During my internship in Buenos Aires, I got the opportunity to work with medical staff at a local hospital. I was able to analyze patient medication regimens and research cancer chemotherapy drugs. Shadowing physicians and attending rounds gave me the perfect opportunity to enhance my medical Spanish terminology while strengthening my desire to work in patient care. I am super grateful for this opportunity because I got to meet incredible people and also be immersed in a new culture and enhance my Spanish skills. I will always remember my time in Buenos Aires because I was able to become more independent and build confidence in my critical thinking and listening skills, which were highly utilized in an immersive language environment. Being able to travel to Iguazu and Uruguay were also a few highlights of my time spent in Buenos Aires.

Scott M

I am a senior studying International Relations with a specialization in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin America. For the summer of 2022, I was able to work abroad for a human rights-based NGO in Buenos Aires, Argentina and it was an amazing experience. Connect-123 carefully linked my career interests and passions perfectly to align me with a fantastic internship opportunity that fits those interests. The NGO was my first internship that I truly loved, and I have Connect-123 to thank for setting it up. I was able to help in organizing the 6th annual International Environmental Film Festival, while other tasks included translating work, accounting, extensive use of Microsoft Excel, and researching. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming and made me feel at home on the very first day. I took away a lot of incredible knowledge, skills, and advice from my time working there. This program gave me a totally new perspective on life, work, and everything in between. I was able to balance work and life and school perfectly well during the program. In addition, throughout this time I became very immersed in Argentine culture, traditions, and history. Outside of the internship, during my free time, I explored every part of the beautiful city of Buenos Aires and I made lots of new friends. Furthermore, I also returned home with an enriched understanding of how to use film and art to advance social awareness of themes related to Human Rights all across the world, something that I wish to expand upon further in my professional and academic career. The overall journey was very enriching in every sense - personally, professionally, and academically- and I thank Lea, Steven, and all the other workers at Connect-123 for allowing me this incredible opportunity

Sydney B

Kaylie F

Having just finished my first year of university as a computer science major, I was eager to start gaining experience in the field but still uncertain where to start. Connect-123 helped me through the process of finding an internship and gave me advice on how to excel in the industry. Since my internship was virtual, I was able to work flexible hours with a great game development team in Spain while still maintaining a normal schedule in my own time zone. Throughout the summer, I was able to improve soft skills such as long-distance communication, teamwork, and time management, and learned technical skills related to game development such as planning out game design and using the game development engine Unreal Engine. Best of all, I was able to become more familiar with game development as a whole and get a better sense of what I want to do for a career. I would definitely recommend Connect-123 for everyone, whether they are just starting out in university or getting ready to go into the workforce.

Daniel R

My summer in Barcelona was truly incredible thanks to Connect-123. I had an amazing experience living and working in such a vibrant and lively city. As a Biochemical Engineering/Physiology major, I have had the unique opportunity to apply my technical knowledge to real-world scenarios. I worked alongside a diverse and interdisciplinary team to dive into the problems associated with liver injuries and transplants. I participated in countless hands-on experiments and designed multiple setups. I was able to practice literature searching and presentation/project formulation and sit in on multiple business meetings. Additionally, I had the incredible opportunity to practice and develop my Spanish language skills in an entirely Spanish-speaking research project. My experience has shaped my future outlook and career plans and I left my internship with an invitation to return in the future. Barcelona is an incredible city filled with robust culture, incredible food, and amazing people. Being able to complete this program in Barcelona opened my eyes to the world and has provided me with incredible memories, friends, and experiences; all of this was thanks to Connect-123. Thank you for an incredible experience! ¡Hasta luego Barcelona!

Noeli D

I am so grateful for Connect-123 and the opportunity it gave me to complete my practicum abroad. The program was well organized and supportive all throughout the 4 weeks I was in Cape Town, South Africa. Having the opportunity to complete my practicum abroad gave me a unique perspective on Child Life. My family and I felt at peace knowing we had someone like Carla to support me and help me navigate being in a new country! Connect-123 provided us with a safe and reliable driver to get us to the hospital and back home. Our assigned preceptor was amazing! We learned so much about Child Life through her and we all got to connect on a personal level when we were off work. Connect-123's program allowed us to complete our practicum and explore a beautiful country by organizing excursions on the weekends. It was all around an incredible learning experience!

Olivia C

I am very fortunate to have had such a cool and amazing internship experience in Barcelona this summer thanks to Connect -123. I was placed into a company in which I learned and grew professionally. My boss has become such a huge role model and influence to me. There were times when I really struggled and felt alone with what I was dealing with but that's all a part of living abroad - there will be amazing and unforgettable moments but there will also be times that you might struggle. You just have to make sure you take as much time for yourself as you need and do the things that make you happy. I also want to thank Adi at Connect-123 for always checking in on me and making sure I was okay during my time in Barcelona, she was always so helpful and super fun to hang out with. I am sad that this summer abroad has to come to an end but so grateful for the memories and friends I made.

Annalisa L

For those who don't know, child life bridges the communication gap between patients, their families, and medical professionals by using language that is developmentally appropriate. We can minimize medical trauma through play by offering support prior to, during, and following procedures. To emphasize family-centered treatment, we also offer support for siblings and parents. During my international practicum, I worked in a variety of settings including inpatient oncology, inpatient orthopedics, a general inpatient ward, an HIV clinic, and a behavioral/developmental health clinic in three different pediatric hospitals. These environments gave me the chance to develop better rapport-building skills, support developmentally appropriate medical play, prioritize care, promote child-directed play, offer normalization and peer-oriented activities, and collaborate with a team on care. The practicum provided me with the skills I needed to be successful in my future work as a child life specialist, and I had the chance to interact with a diverse range of patients on several wards. During my time in Cape Town, I was undoubtedly pushed but also developed a ton of confidence. I built ties with patients and their families and saw the challenges they face every day. While in Cape Town, I gained a lot of knowledge about the child life field and myself, as well as made incredible friends that I will always treasure. Thank you!!

Joey K

This summer, thanks to Connect-123, I had the wonderful opportunity to intern as a translator at a communications firm in Barcelona. As a linguistics major, this was a great chance to not only explore possible career options but also explore a city that has so much to offer in terms of food, beaches, sightseeing, and culture. I was able to meet lots of cool people also interning over the summer through Connect-123’s living arrangements, so there was never a time when I felt alone or had nothing to do. The company that Connect-123 set me up with also welcomed me with open arms and was a great place to become closer friends with locals. Although my job as a translator required Spanish, the city is very international and it is very easy to get around just with English. Overall, I had a great time in Barcelona and made many memories that I will cherish forever!

Sam G

Braden B

As a first-year medical student, I was searching for a summer experience that would both enhance my education and challenge me to step outside my comfort zone. Because of Cape Town’s unique socioeconomic, cultural, and medical landscape, it was the perfect setting for these two things to be accomplished. My group and I spent nearly a month shadowing healthcare workers both in a public hospital setting and at a home for chronically ill children. There, we gained insight into how the challenges caused by minimal resources can be overcome and how one’s personal health and social circumstances are deeply intertwined, something that is often veiled in the United States. We learned many other lessons while in Cape Town, and I am confident that this experience will allow us to develop into more understanding, humble, and caring physicians in the future.

In addition to the professional and personal growth, we were able to travel around and enjoy some of what South Africa has to offer, including a multi-day safari, shark cage diving near Shark Alley, and wine tastings at some of the best vineyards in the world. Traversing a country for the first time can be a daunting task, but Carla at Connect-123 helped to make our time there stress-free and enjoyable. She was extremely helpful with scheduling excursions and always available to answer any questions we had. The invaluable education, the gorgeous sunrises, but most especially, the amazing individuals I met along the way, made this opportunity truly unforgettable

Cami S

I am a second-year medical student who is not sure what specialty I will end up practicing in, but I know that I want to serve every patient with the best medical care fitted for their personal needs. Going on this trip to Cape Town, South Africa, with Connect-123 allowed me to gain so much experience not only in the medical sense but also when it comes to socioeconomic factors in healthcare. As someone that had never been out of North America, I think that doing a program abroad greatly improved my individuality and confidence, while also working on my professional development by working with staff and patients from a variety of cultural and social backgrounds. We got to work with nurses, therapists, social workers, and a doctor at a Children’s Hospital to learn the individual needs of children with a variety of illnesses and had the opportunity to shadow surgeons in the ICU and operating rooms at a bigger Hospital. Not only did I learn a lot in the hospitals, but our group also got to do many fun excursions, such as a weekend safari, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, and shark cage diving. This was truly a life-changing experience and I would suggest it to anyone looking for an incredible opportunity to become more well-rounded in their field. Thank you so much to Connect-123, and especially Carla who made us all feel so safe and welcome in Cape Town!

Jill M

Finding experiences that relate to my interests and career goals is a difficult task on its own, made much more difficult during a global pandemic. Connect-123 went above and beyond in finding me the perfect internship. While I did have some hesitations and a couple of hiccups along the way, Carla and Lea were there for me every step of the way and always had my best interests at heart. Thanks to them, I was able to gain experience in the archaeological field - even while remote! I was able to help develop workshops to help inspire the next generation of archaeologists while learning about the archaeological practices utilized in Ireland. I will always be grateful for the experiences and connections I made through Connect-123.

Abigail D

My experience interning in Cape Town, South Africa, is one I will never forget! As a public policy and education student, I knew I wanted my time to be spent working within the realm of South African education. After expressing my interests to Carla, she was able to find the perfect internship for me. During the 10 weeks I was there, I was tasked to do all sorts of things including substituting, job-seeking, and more! I loved having the opportunity to meet youth and educators passionate about creating better conditions through education. My students and their experiences have left a significant impact on me that will fuel my outlook on educational equity. Outside of my internship, I was able to explore much of what Cape Town has to offer! From beaches, to hikes, to farmer's market,s and more, there really is something for everyone in Cape Town during any season. A huge thank you to Connect-123 and Carla for facilitating such a personally impactful experience! I can't wait to visit again!

Cristian V

I am a senior at Bucknell University majoring in Global Management with a concentration in Europe. Through Bucknell and Connect-123, I had the opportunity to intern in Dublin, at an organization that helps SMEs who are looking for export opportunities. From the very first day, my supervisor and the staff made me feel like I was at home. They understood I was coming from a different continent and needed to adapt to the work environment and the city. They clearly explained my role in the company and were very enthusiastic to see me learn and develop. I learned about International Trade and the mechanics and structure of a membership organization. In addition to this, I was able to improve my professional communication skills by interacting with SME owners (at times) and with my coworkers. Bucknell and Connect-123 did a tremendous job connecting us with our internships and coordinating cultural events to enrich our knowledge of Irish culture. I was grateful to be part of this journey, making long-lasting relationships and growing personally and professionally.

April B

I could not be more thankful to Connect-123 for their help in connecting me with an internship in Ireland. Not only did they help me secure my internship, but they also helped me every step of the way to make sure that I was prepared before, during, and after my internship was complete. I worked as a Community Intern at a game design studio, where I was tasked with improving community engagement across their social media platforms. Even though I did this internship virtually, I was still able to connect with my supervisors on a professional level, and I will be staying in contact with them throughout my professional life. This helped me learn a lot about my chosen field and how it functions on a day-to-day level before I even graduate college! I never thought that I would be able to work with a game design studio but Connect-123 made that possible. Thank you to Carla and the rest of the wonderful team at Connect-123 for helping me get this experience!