A Summer in Review: The CIEE Alumni Internship Program, 2017

It was another exciting and engaging summer for CIEE's Alumni Interns in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. Through the Alumni Internship Program, ten CIEE Study Abroad alumni representing a variety of backgrounds, academic interests, and universities collaborated with staff at two different offices, in the field, and around the world to tackle complex topics in international education. They also participated in weekly leadership seminars to hone their skills and build a picture of their professional lives after graduation. The result was a set of thoughtful presentations and recommendations for future endeavors that contribute to CIEE's work. Here's what they have to say about their experience at CIEE:

"I would say my biggest takeaway from this internship program is what I learned through my 30 Minutes to Mentor sessions. Our generation is turning to a work style where it is more important to try a bunch of different experiences through your professional career, so don’t be concerned about finding the job that can fit your needs for your life right out of college. Also, overall, I developed tremendously both personally and professionally this summer and I’m looking forward to a future career in international education and beyond." -Evan Seder

"My biggest takeaway was connecting with CIEE employees who spent time working abroad prior to beginning at this organization. Their stories and courage have inspired me to want to do the same. These conversations, along with our weekly professional development seminars, helped me better understand what I hope to do following graduation next May. I hope to continue working at organizations with an international focus." -Emily MacLaren

"This past summer at CIEE helped me decide on a potential career path for my post-grad school search. Learning more about the international education field through different mentors in the building allowed me to understand what my options were. I left knowing that I could reach out to mentors at any point and continue asking for advice. Going into my senior year, I know that I am more prepared, professionally and personally, than if I had not been a part of this internship. It was an amazing opportunity to grow!" -Lea Sandoval

"I think my biggest takeaway was coming to understand that you really do get out of something what you put into it. In school, it’s easy to only put in as much work as it will take to get a good grade, which doesn’t always mean actually trying your hardest. In this internship, putting everything you’ve got into a project could be the difference between having our work used and referred to for years to come or having our project sit on the shelf. It was up to us to create a project we were proud of!" -Ellen Lechman

"Over everything else, this internship taught me to take initiative in the workplace. I was never waiting around for a mentor’s directions. Rather, I used my spare time to work on what I saw as important projects for my department. This initiative has definitely paid off, as I can see some of my suggestions being implemented in real time. It’s incredible, and definitely rare, to have that kind of trust as an intern." -Jamie Katz

"The internship solidified my trust in myself and my abilities. CIEE views the interns as valued assets which gave me the confidence to dive into my project and professional development. I am excited to grow my professional confidence in the future." -Liz Stoppelmann

"I gained a lot of analytical skills with this internship with Excel spreadsheets and financial data, I am now able to apply those lessons to my creative work in graphic design, especially when trying to sell my work or setting prices for freelance projects." -Ciranno Soares

"During this summer I worked on my first personal project which was a bit intimidating. Because I had the liberty of doing my own research, it was sometimes hard to focus on collecting the right information. Luckily, my mentor was great because she helped me stay on track and helped me understand how to digest the information that I had collected. Before this internship, I was interested in analytics but wasn’t sure if it was right for me. However, this internship helped me realize that a job in the analytics field is a good choice for me." -Naeli Elizalde

 "This internship put me in a position to not only learn the skills to complete my projects but to also blossom professionally and personally. I became a mentor, a listener, a doer, a thinker, a chef, and ultimately learned so much about myself and the world due to the connections I've made. My CIEE notebook is jam packed with entrepreneurial endeavors that came to me right at my desk that will come alive in the near future. I am forever grateful for CIEE for allowing me to see things in myself that I didn't know were there!" -Arianna Alleyne

"One of the biggest takeaways from working at CIEE was being able to connect with other employees in various departments through the 30-mins-to-mentor segment of my Alumni Internship. I am so appreciative of my mentor who understood my desire to write and work in international education, and connected me with professionals in these fields. Talking to those with the same interests as myself was inspiring, helpful and by far one of the best experiences. I gained a lot of advice and a network I never had before." -Carmin Wong

Though they were hard at work on their projects, our interns also had time to explore Portland, Boston, and many other gems of New England! Here area a few highlights from the summer:

"Summer in Boston was a whole different culture that I'm not used to indulging in as a native New Yorker. I went to my first beach in America, I went canoeing in the Charles River, I played life-size Connect Four (and won), I accidentally joined a running team and the list goes on and on. Boston gave me a lot of 'firsts' this summer as it engulfed me in its own unique culture." -Arianna Alleyne

"I had never hiked, or basically done anything outdoorsy until I came to Maine, and I loved it! One weekend, all five girls from the Portland office decided to do a glamping trip to Acadia. We were able to explore different parts of Acadia and I pushed myself both mentally and physically. However, the most rewarding moment was being able to see the sunrise after hiking at night." -Naeli Elizalde

"Maine is such a beautiful state! I got to witness it firsthand when we visited Acadia National Park one weekend. Not only did we see the sunrise, but we hiked in other areas and the scenery was just crazy beautiful. I definitely gained a greater appreciation for nature and Portland's coastal feel. The memories created with the other interns throughout the summer were great! Going on random adventures here and there around the area was so much fun." -Lea Sandoval

"The highlight of my summer in Maine was definitely July 4th. We had a big BBQ in the field outside of our residence hall for all of the interns and CIEE Work and Travel USA program participants. For many, it was their first experience at a BBQ and it was a great way to show them the culture. From there, we went to the fireworks at the Eastern Promenade and watched them as a big group. It was exciting to see the level of happiness between all the different cultures on this fun summer day." -Evan Seder

"The two highlights of this summer were the people I was able to meet and the places I was able to explore. Aside from meeting and becoming great friends with the other interns, I was able to meet CIEE Work and Travel USA participants from all over the world. Also, I had the opportunity to explore the New England area. My favorite weekend was spent Acadia National Park." -Emily MacLaren

"The level of professional development I received this summer was unexpected and still unbelievable. Since finishing my internship at CIEE, I have landed 3 interviews, and have been impressed by how comfortable I felt going into each. I gained technical skills I never had and I feel confident enough to work in any setting. Furthermore, working in the Boston office was a great setting. I especially enjoyed hearing all the comments and support from those in the Boston office—and elsewhere—after my final presentation. What sometimes felt like a surreal experience became a moment of pride and fulfillment after hearing positive feedback from those I worked alongside the whole summer." -Carmin Wong

 "My favorite parts of the summer in Boston were exploring some of Boston’s museums and historical sites. This was also my first time on the East Coast (other than a quick family trip to D.C. when I was really young), so I also got to visit New York City for the very first time this summer! Lastly, I loved living and working with the other Boston interns, Carmin and Arianna. They are both such incredible women, and I learned so much from them!" -Ellen Lechman

"The highlight of my summer in Maine was our trip to Acadia National Park. We went ‘glamping’ near the park, half-successfully built our own fires, cooked our meals on a grill, and even woke up for a sunrise hike on Cadillac Mountain. Portland is an awesome city to live in for the summer, but I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience the 'outdoorsy' side of Maine." -Jamie Katz

"Glamping for a weekend in Acadia National Park was a great way to see the beauty of Maine from scaling Beehive to hiking Cadillac to see the sunrise. Also struggling to start a campfire for the needed s’mores experience. Top summer memory, for sure!" -Liz Stoppelmann

"Exploring the city with my bike and tubing in the Presumpscot river were two of the most fun things I have done this summer. Exploring the many different restaurants in Portland was also awesome!" -Ciranno Soares