Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Major and class standing: Comparative Cultures & Politics, French, Senior
Instagram: @maddona
Where you interned: Riders’ Rights, Beirut, Lebanon
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
I wore, what some would say “a lot of different hats” at my internship. Being at a smaller organization meant I had the opportunity to complete a lot of different types of tasks. Usually, every week, my main responsibilities included conducting research on mobility and transportation issues within Lebanon and the Arab Region, assisting in writing and developing grant or funding proposals, as well as writing blogs on global mobility trends and challenges.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
I got my internship by applying through MSU’s Global Remote Internship Program, also known as GRIP. My resume was given to Connect 123, which is a company that operates as a matching service for internships and study abroad programs. They sent my resume to organizations that matched my interests, and I ended up getting an internship with Riders’ Rights.
What did your daily routine include?
My weekly routine consisted of meeting with my internship coordinator every Monday to review my completed tasks from the prior week as well as discuss what I would be doing in the upcoming week. Outside our weekly meetings, we stayed in contact through a workgroup chat with other interns and had some supplemental meetings.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
My favorite experience from my internship was gaining experience in research and working for an organization whose mission I supported. Research is something I am very passionate about and want to pursue in my professional career, so having the opportunity to learn more about the research process in a real-world context, or at least outside of class, was extremely beneficial.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
My least favorite part of the internship was the remote working. I am extremely happy I did the program, though, because it allowed me to learn that fully remote work is not something I enjoy. In the future, I would love to work in a hybrid position because I am a very social person and like to stay connected with both my colleagues and friends.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
This internship helped me grow exponentially. I think outside of hard skills, like gaining research experience, my most important takeaway was building my communication skills. Not only was I not in person, but I was working in a 7-hour time difference between the U.S. and Lebanon. Also being a student means there are a lot of external stressors like class, extracurriculars, friends, etc. So, I had to make sure I was very clear with my intern coordinator about what I was able to take on during the week when I would be able to complete tasks, and sometimes let him know I would not be able to do something because I did not have the capacity that week.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
I learned a lot about NGOs that I had not known before and it was very eye-opening, especially working for a smaller one. I learned they are sometimes a little less organized than regular companies and you have to be flexible or learn to be. I plan to finish my undergrad, go to grad school, and then hopefully work for an IGO or consulting firm.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
For students seeking out internships, my best piece of advice is to apply, apply, apply. There are a lot of times when it will be very discouraging because a company or job you were interested in does not get back to you, or maybe you will receive a lot of rejections, but I promise there is an organization or company that does want to work for you, you just have to keep putting yourself out there.
