Reviews

Stacy Brehman

As an International Politics major, it has always been within my plans to find an internship internationally. Throughout my search for how to make this process as painless as possible, I ran across Connect-123 and was instantly interested. I had heard many great reviews from previous students having experiences with Connect-123, so I decided to trust their process and take a chance on an experience of a lifetime!

After working with Connect-123’s coordinators, I got paired with a gender-based violence organization in Cape Town, South Africa! However, as the world started to suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unable to travel and work in South Africa due to travel restrictions, but the staff at Connect-123 was with me through all of the challenges by providing very enhanced and creative alternate solutions. I was still able to participate in the internship remotely with the same organization where I worked on their program, workshop, and counseling development by doing lots of research and compiling information to create manuals and guides for social workers to use within their programming. While it was not the summer I had imagined, I still gained a lot of skills that will be useful in our technology-centered world going forward. Throughout the summer, Connect-123 was right there with me by providing professional development seminars and fun, cultural sessions to introduce us to our would-be destinations. I will always be grateful to the support that Connect-123 has given me through this unprecedented time.

Cheltsea Marte

Liam Tierney

Due to Covid-19, my summer plans to study abroad in Argentina were canceled. Luckily, I was able to get a great virtual internship through Connect-123. I worked with them to get placed with an Argentinian company, which has been a great company to work with. Connect-123 has been very helpful along the way, constantly checking in to make sure I’m happy with everything. They have also offered various zoom meetings and seminars which have been very helpful and applicable for my internship. I can’t speak any higher of Connect-123, they have been helpful throughout the whole process.

Anya Aidun

As a business major, I was eager to explore global markets and business places. Even, with a pandemic, Connect-123 was able to provide an excellent internship program where I was able to learn about different cultures remotely. I don't think you will find any other internship program that is so dedicated to the success and wellbeing of their applicants and genuinely want to prepare them to succeed in the future. Connect-123 does incredible work finding their applicants the perfect internship and they were able to find me an internship where I was able to combine my passions of global business, women's empowerment, and sustainability. I was given the opportunity to work directly with the CEO and Founder on projects, engagement, and marketing which allowed me the opportunity to develop my business skills while also growing so much as an individual. Lea and Steven are the most caring and invested individuals and the perfect leaders for Connect-123. This has been the best internship experience of my entire life!

Collin Frazey

When the COVID-19 pandemic stripped away my plans to travel to Cape Town, I was nothing short of devastated. However, in joining Connect-123 for their virtual summer program, I not only found a rewarding internship along my career path but also became a part of an excellent community of fellow students. The support, career development seminars, and overall experience with Connect-123 was excellent and saved my 2020 summer.

Sherrine Boseman Rives

I have enjoyed my internship experience with Connect-123 immensely. I was paired with an organization that was really a great fit. The virtual aspect of my internship was unexpected as I had made plans to spend two months in Cape Town, South Africa. The pandemic changed those plans rather abruptly. However, everyone at Connect-123 was very helpful, and worked with me to coordinate a virtual internship. I feel that I would not have been able to pivot from an in person traditional internship experience to a virtual one without the responsiveness of the Connect-123 team.

The host organization I have been paired with has challenged me to use all of my talents and develop a few more. Every day during my assignment I am amazed at the breadth and scope of skills I use to complete tasks for the organization. It has been a great experience and I feel like I am a part of the host organization’s team. We meet almost daily and there are general staff meetings that I participate in from the United States.

It’s equally beneficial to be a part of the Connect-123 intern group. The organization provided virtual tours of Cape Town and Barcelona that were memorable. I have visited both countries before and I learned something new. The opportunity to listen to the achievements and talents of other Connect-123 participants has been invaluable and motivating. This has been an experience I will not soon forget. I will always have something positive and very interesting to share about my days during this life altering pandemic and I am very grateful.

Katherine Babbit

I had an amazing experience interning with a non-profit which works to empower vulnerable communities in South Africa. I conducted research on gender-based violence within the environmental sector and assisted in both developing programming and garnering funding to address these issues. I loved having the opportunity to contribute to a cause that I felt passionate about and to explore the form of work I am interested in pursuing after college. It was definitely disappointing that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel plans and prohibited me from visiting South Africa, but Connect-123 really helped make this virtual cross-cultural experience still meaningful. I was able to form a close connection with my supervisor, and I regularly interacted with other Connect-123 participants around the world through WhatsApp and Zoom. I can't wait to follow up on these connections in person someday in the future!

Olivia Rasmussen

I was determined to make the most of the Summer after my sophomore year of college knowing that if I put in the work, more opportunities would come up for me down the road. Unfortunately, like the rest of the world, COVID-19 took away my perfectly planned out Summer of an internship abroad. I was left worried that one of my college Summers would be wasted away,  and I would lose time I wanted to be experimenting in the working world. Thankfully, I found Connect-123 and they placed me in a virtual internship. Through this internship, I have gained so much social media marketing experience. In more general terms though, I have gained many communication skills and got to feel like I am really making a difference in the company. This was the perfect way for me to transition everything I have learned in school up to this point and put it into the ‘real world’. The strengths I came in with have expanded, but I also have new skills and experiences in marketing that I did not have before.

Adrianna Clemenhagen

I have always had an interest in traveling and getting to know other cultures. While I was unable to travel abroad for an in-person internship amid a global pandemic, Connect-123 offered a solution. With an opportunity to gain work experience, learn about Argentina, and practice my Spanish skills, Connect-123 helped me to fulfill all these goals with a virtual internship. As a Communications and Fundraising intern with an environmental organization, I got a closer look into the inner workings of non-profits, experience in writing grant proposals, as well as the opportunity to create social media content. I’m grateful for the chance to have gained internship experience despite the global issue of COVID-19, and I am so happy to have met the wonderful people at my organization. Hopefully, I can travel down to see them in the future!

Sarah Blinn

Given the uncertain times amidst the pandemic, I found a way to intern on a research project in Dublin through Connect-123. This opportunity allowed me to gain experience virtually as well as learn to navigate difficulties in communication and learning Ireland's Health Care system compared to the United States systems. Through Connect-123, I was also given the opportunity to work in groups through WhatsApp and via online seminars to share achievements as well as challenges. Within my internship, I have been able to learn about Ireland, Ireland's Health Care System as well as the UK's system. Through Connect-123 I have been able to build my resume, create virtual job opportunities for myself, and start adapting to the new norm of not communicating face to face. My time interning with my advisor has been enjoyable and flexible while I am taking classes at Birmingham-Southern College virtually as well. I have recommended this experience to many girls in my sorority as well as friends at other colleges in Florida. This experience is a great start to beginning my career path as a Physician's Assistant.

Tajsha Pope

Being a global studies major, I am always fascinated with the idea of traveling the world. I knew that during my last year of college I wanted to complete an internship abroad. Not knowing where to begin with the search process, Connect-123 made it easy for me. They took into account my work and personal goals and found a position that helped me grow. I taught English classes at a non-profit organization that helps young adults continue their education. Not only did I improve my teaching skills but other work skills I didn’t know I had. I was able to improve my Spanish and now feel confident talking with native Spanish speakers. I truly felt challenged and feel confident that this experience will make me stand out in the work world. I made beautiful connections with my colleagues and students I worked with during my time. Each day I would learn something new about Barcelona and myself. I also made long-lasting memories with other people I met through Connect-123. This journey shaped me into a new person and I will always cherish my time. I can't wait to go back to Barcelona again.

Andrew Smith

It is common for recent college graduates to struggle with figuring out what they want to do post-graduation and I am a prime example of that. Fortunately, Connect-123 helped me not only get the internship experience I was looking for, but the life experience that I will always remember. As a project management intern, I worked on several interesting projects which required me to complete extensive market research and ultimately, collaborate on a business plan for an upcoming Virtual Reality idea the company plans to launch. Working with people of many different cultures and backgrounds was an invaluable experience in addition to developing my Spanish speaking abilities. I met so many wonderful people during my time here: locals, at my internship and through the Connect-123 program. I will never forget my time here and cannot wait to come back to Barcelona in the future.

Libby Fox

Being able to do an internship abroad was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced. Connect-123 made everything simple. They found us amazing apartments, a great internship site, and were even able to provide mandarin classes to us. It was also so nice to know that there was a point of contact person living in the city that we could message for advice and meet when we needed help with something. There was so much to do, and it was easy to get by without being fluent in Mandarin. I had a wonderful time and highly recommend finding internships through Connect-123!

Casey McShea

Traveling alone to live in a foreign country for three months is one of the most terrifying things I have ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. Connect-123’s international internship program has given me an experience like no other, pushing me out of my comfort zone in ways I didn’t even know were possible and learning so much in only a matter of weeks. My digital marketing and events planning internship taught me so much both about the field and myself. When I decided I wanted to participate in an international internship, there were so many uncertainties and questions I had, but Connect-123 was so helpful and patient in putting my unease at rest. The entire team is so supportive and welcoming and really makes your transition so much easier. Whenever I had an issue or worry, they were there to help. Not only that, but the events they organize for you to meet fellow interns are so fun and give you more opportunities to experience your host country and make new friends! Participating in Connect-123’s program not only gives you hands-on experience and is a great resumé booster but also allows you to have the experience of a lifetime.

Hailee Morisseau

My time in Cape Town was truly memorable. I had the opportunity to complete an observership/internship at the hospital where I was able to learn from the Department of Neurosurgery. My healthcare experience was a well-rounded one as I also had the opportunity to observe other scopes of practice, such as anesthesia, child life, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy. Not only was I able to observe surgeries, clinics, and ward rounds, but I was also given the opportunity to assist with data entry to help transfer the department over to an electronic note system. This experience was incredibly helpful for me to gain more exposure to healthcare and to become more confident in the career path that I want to follow. Cape Town itself is a beautiful city to be in and I met a lot of great people from all over the world. The coordinators were always happy to help with anything and they played a key role in making my experience as memorable as it was!

Logan Kaifes

Completing the Child Life practicum abroad helped me grow as an individual and in my future career. I was able to experience Child Life in a different culture, working with various patients and their families in a healthcare setting different than I was used to. It helped me to step out of my comfort zone and realized how important the power of play is for all kids! I made so many memories and lifelong friends while studying in Cape Town that I’ll cherish forever! It was truly the best experience I have ever been given and thank you Connect-123 for being there every step of the way!

Lisa Clark

Connect-123 did an amazing job finding the perfect internship for our son.  As parents of a recent high school graduate who was taking a GAP semester in the fall 2019, we were unsure of what to expect.  He was doing this on his own, not through a college program.  Working with the staff at Connect-123 was delightful.  Kate was always available to answer questions before and during the internship, and considering our late application, she put great consideration and effort into finding the right placement.  She set up a Skype interview with the business owner for the internship and I was able to say hello and ask questions after the interview with my son.  Our son was happy with his apartment and everything worked out well with roommates.  I was also impressed with my communication with Steven Levy during the planning stages, very hands-on with the program, reaching out to me with more detailed information about the apartment arrangements.  We were able to visit our son in Cape Town and stopped by the office to say hello to the staff.  We met Kate for coffee and found she truly cares about each intern and is fully invested in making this an amazing experience.  She visited our son at his internship to check in with him and she and the staff organized and accompanied the interns on fun outings on several evenings and weekends!  With our son 8,000 miles away, it was so nice to know he had the support of the staff if needed, but it was nice to see that he was able to figure out how to live on his own, with meals, laundry, transportation, and so on.  I would highly recommend this program for anyone who is comfortable living abroad, independently.  This was an incredibly valuable experience for our son!

Paige Rideout

Joshua Maclin

As part of the 2018 class from Earlham College, I interned in the Geriatric Ward of a Mental Health Center. I wrote a systematic review of four types of dementia: Frontotemporal lobe dementia, Vascular Dementia, Alzheimer's, and dementia with Lewy Bodies. In conjunction with research, I had observed how my supervisors and other doctors operated in the geriatric ward and edited some of my coworkers' work and presentations. In addition to my internship, living in Shanghai was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I lived in an amazing apartment that was in the heart of Shanghai and had access to so much within very little walking distance. I was also able to experience Chinese culture firsthand, which was something I've wanted to do for years! I was able to travel a fair bit with my schedule. I visited Nanjing and a few other notable places in China. I had an incredible time and would highly recommend this program!

Domenico Dimatteo

Throughout the duration of my time abroad I met a lot of different people and made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work for a startup in Barcelona, Spain. As a research assistant, I was assigned the task of studying a nano-coating product with hopes of optimizing it for commercial use, specifically within the automotive industry. Having had work experience in the United States, cultural differences were evident and uncomfortable at times. A major takeaway I had from the experience is that we all are capable of transforming ourselves to fit into unique environments. Often times, the fear of change holds us back from fully believing in our own capabilities. Finding a way to become comfortable with being uncomfortable is a useful skill that transcends the workplace. Overall, I am extremely grateful to have had an internship abroad for it has expanded my perspective on the world. My time in Barcelona is something that I will cherish forever and would recommend it to anyone contemplating it.