Reviews

Lena F

I had a great experience during my internship abroad in Dublin! The finance internship that Connect-123 found for me was a really good fit. Our housing at UCD in Dublin was very nice, and I enjoyed most of the group activities too. I am thankful to leave with quality work experience, new friends, and a new appreciation for Ireland.

Favour U

This experience with Connect-123 was amazing and was everything that I hoped for. I was nervous about the internship placement at first however, my final internship placement was amazing and I loved the organization and their work. The tourist events that Connect-123 planned were also incredible; the variety of restaurants, the safari tour, and extra excursions we could sign up for. I enjoyed everything and I will add that I loved having my own space, as I got an Airbnb. However, Connect-123 and Carla really made this dream come through and made it easier than I could imagine!!

Addison L

This opportunity has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I highly recommend it. I got to immerse myself in the Spanish work culture as a marketing intern at a communications consulting company. I enjoyed learning more Spanish and forming a network with my colleagues. I was also able to learn about the consulting process and was able to work on some of my own projects for the company. I made the best friends with the others in the program and we all had the best time together. We went to dinners, went sightseeing, went out, and even travelled together. The Connect-123 events were also fun! P.S. Sophie is the best. :) I am beyond grateful for this opportunity that helped me grow both professionally and personally and brought me the best memories.

Marianna CU

Thanks to Connect-123 I was able to have an amazing summer in Barcelona. They helped me find an internship in the environmental sustainability field to work during my two months in Barcelona. Working at this organization helped me learn about the Catalonia region and the importance of it. As well as learning about the natural spaces and the Catalan work culture and lifestyle. In this internship, I was able to host activities in Spanish which helped me improve my Spanish. Connect-123 made sure to contact us about the internship in the beginning and during our time being there which made me feel confident since I knew I had a group of people supporting me. Also, I was able to meet people from all over the US and the world through their events. Connect-123 made sure to encourage everyone to attend these events since it was an amazing opportunity to meet people in the same program as you. Overall, I had a great time in Barcelona and made so many memories with the most amazing people.

Chelsey C

Caleb A

I had an amazing internship experience in Dublin, Ireland with Connect-123. I was placed in an awesome internship at a record label where I learned so much about the music business. I also had the opportunity to go on Connect-123 planned trips such as the Cliffs of Moher as well as my own trips to places like Cork and London. Through these eye-opening trips, I got to learn so much more about Irish/European food and culture and got to see stunning views. The people I’ve met during the program have become close friends and great additions to my network. Overall, I had a fantastic time abroad!

Grace F

My experience with an internship through Connect-123 was incredibly exciting; I ended up working in precisely the field I’m interested in and gained valuable experience that will help me pursue my career. I also really enjoyed the Connect-123 sponsored trips, especially to the cliffs of Moher. One of the best things about being abroad is the ability to travel further. I’ve been able to cheaply travel extensively around Ireland as well as in Germany and Italy. Another thing I appreciate is the automatic community I joined through Connect-123; it was really nice to arrive in a new country knowing that there were already some people I was connected with and who I could contact in case of emergency.

Ella E

I have just left Barcelona after two months, and I already want to be back! I had the best experience exploring a city so unlike where I grew up and met introspective and wonderful people through my internship at a clinic for sick children, as well as through Connect-123. With like-minded new friends, I discovered amazing restaurants throughout the city, visited nearby places up the coast, went to a number of amazing art museums, and even went to an FC Barca game which was the best! My friends were the best, and I am even going to travel with some over the course of my gap year! Over my time working, I was able to form bonds with children struggling with challenging medical issues, as well as their parents, and doing so brought me fulfillment and awe of how such great difficulties can shape a person. All of my colleagues and the families were such lovely humans, and most of all inspired me to not take anything for granted and work through challenges with an open and light mindset. An experience I never would have found on my own, working at the clinic brought me clarity on the things I could see myself doing in the future and was lots of fun for improving my Spanish skills. The Connect-123 activities were a blast, my personal favorite was a tapas night on one of the best tapas streets in Barcelona! I am headed to the University of Washington this September, and while I will be sad to return back to the States, I am doing so with new perspectives of the world, new abilities to make global friends, and a mile-long bucket list of places I want to travel to next! Thank you Connect-123!

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!!