Living in Ireland for the summer really helped me gain a lot of confidence, both professionally and personally. It was nice to be part of a program that gave me so much support while still encouraging me to be independent. I really appreciated the social opportunities Connect-123 offered, too, even if I wasn’t able to join as often as I would have liked. My internship was at an equine hospital in Kildare, and it gave me the chance to explore a part of veterinary medicine I had not had much experience with as well as letting me see how veterinary medicine is practiced in a different part of the world. I feel like my international experience will really help me stand out in vet school applications, both in my actual experience and in taking the initiative to do it. I got to do a lot of hands-on work with the veterinary nurses, and the doctor in charge was great about turning each case into a learning opportunity. Spending the whole summer there meant that I got to take on more responsibility and really get to know the people I was working with. Connect-123 was very supportive in helping me set up everything before I got there. My internship was difficult to find, but they still made sure I got an ideal placement. I also appreciated the collaboration throughout my stay in Ireland. Even though I ended up outside of Dublin, there was always a definite effort to keep in touch and make sure I was doing well. There was also an emphasis on the future, and what this internship can do for me—especially at my last meeting, we talked a lot about how I can discuss this experience in interviews. My Connect-123 internship was a great resource for me in trying to be competitive as a veterinary school applicant.