Kevin Rapp - BSIP in Berlin

Why did you choose to participate in a Brown Semester Internship Program?
I chose to participate in this program because I am completing the intercultural competence certificate, and this was an opportunity to fulfill the experiential learning component of the certificate. I also lived in Germany for four years when I was younger through my dad's work, and this program was an opportunity to reconnect with German culture and my roots.

What did you like most about your internship?
I liked the openness of the program layout and requirements compared to traditional study abroad programs. There was much more flexibility to define how I interacted with Berlin. I was working 20 hours between Monday and Thursday (I chose how I divided up this time), and taking two Zoom classes. Because of this, I had more spontaneous experiences and unexpected and rewarding moments.

How did the experience shape what you have done since or will do next?
I interned at a research lab at a university in Berlin, and I am now applying to complete a Fulbright after graduating, conducting research with an advisor who worked in the building I initially interned at. I also explored a research area that I was curious to see if I wanted to continue (I discovered I did not want to continue it).

How did your host city impact your overall experience?
My host city was perfect. Berlin was perfect. I've returned once already and I have plane tickets booked for another return. The program housing placed me in the middle of the city, five minutes away from great places and night life areas that are considered hidden gems by the locals ("Koti", short for Kotbusser Tor). I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Imani Stewart - BSIP in Dublin

Why did you choose to participate in a Brown Semester Internship Program?
I have always wanted the opportunity to see more of the world, and I was very curious about the experience of working outside of the United States. I am someone who is interested in living and working outside of the country, so the BSIP in Dublin was the perfect way for me to try this experience out without having to work at a firm for more than a semester.

What did you like most about your internship?
I thought they did a fabulous job pairing me with a person who was very compatible with my interests and ideology, Dr. Lucy Michael. I enjoyed working with her and seeing how she ran her own small business.

How did the experience shape what you have done since or will do next?
Having DEI experience specifically on my resume allowed me to more easily get an internship last summer doing similar work for a study abroad school in Greece, College Year in Athens. I hope to continue working with them and/or other schools in the future as they look to make informed decisions on how to establish themselves as schools that people of color feel comfortable traveling to and studying with.

How did your host city impact your overall experience?
I found Dublin to be really charming and surprisingly informative in my opinion of especially east coast American cities. There are a lot of Irish immigrants in the United States, but in learning more about Irish culture in Dublin, I could see more specifically how it had impacted American culture.

Ellie Fuller - BSIP in Sydney

Why did you choose to participate in a Brown Semester Internship Program?
The program was a good opportunity to explore life outside of college and confirm my ideal career path. Doing so while abroad made me even more certain of the field that I intend to pursue.

What did you like most about your internship?
Most significantly, the internship provided me with a sneak peak into the career field I am currently studying in college, helping increase my confidence in my studies.

How did the experience shape what you have done since or will do next?
The internship experience provided me with a healthy work-life balance as it followed a strict schedule that didn't allow time for procrastination. Reflecting on the internship, I now value my time and work schedule much more.

How did your host city impact your overall experience?
It was amazing and I want to go back as soon as possible!!! I now have a better idea of what I am looking for in a future home and location.

Luis Gomez - BSIP in Berlin

Why did you choose to participate in a Brown Semester Internship Program?
I love experiential learning, taking leaps, and going way out of my comfort zone, and the description of this program made it seem as though this was thus something I needed to pursue. I've had a lot of fun exploring learning at a place like Brown, and I was happy to see that there was a program that would further facilitate my exploration of learning, personal development, and career options.

What did you like most about your internship?
I was fortunate to be matched with an internship that made me reflect on my career goals, as I loved the vision behind the start-up I was interning at. Although it comprised five people (including the two interns), I learned a lot from my supervisors, who were very kind and understanding of a busy undergraduate student's life. I learned first-hand about the operations of a sustainability-based start-up in a new culture, which I found to be an advantageous way of learning.

How did the experience shape what you have done since or will do next?
This experience helped me realize a few things I love: living and working abroad, exploring my identity through experiences beyond my comfort zone, and the fact that I would like to have a career that positively impacts the environment. It was so lovely getting to hear my supervisors' passion and desire to be a part of a movement that helps mitigate the pressures of climate change. I've adopted an infinite mindset as well, as I have come to an understanding that I can personally have an impact on this issue in many different ways (not just through a science-based start-up). I am planning on getting some sustainability-related experience right after Brown in preparation for a sustainability-based graduate program 2-3 years after I graduate (of which graduate school I had not even considered before the program).

How did your host city impact your overall experience?
Living in Berlin has got to be one of my most transformative experiences as an undergraduate student. I grew so much personally as I connected deeply with the culture and discovered many new ways of expressing my identity, which is essential when considering where to start a career. My Berlin experience made me reflect deeply on what I genuinely value and would want when considering where to go after Brown, as it made me understand that being somewhere that excites me energizes and motivates me to pursue ventures that I might not have pursued otherwise. I'm very fortunate to have connected with the city so well, and I can confidently say that it is now my favorite city worldwide.
 

Adriel Fernandez - Brown in Washington

Why did you choose to participate in a Brown Semester Internship Program
I had chosen to participate in Brown in Washington because it was an opportunity for me to travel and be a part of a place in which policy and politics are such a central and integral place for the geographic location. I didn't think I would be chosen - but I am so happy to have applied and to have been a part of this amazing program!

What did you like most about your internship?
I worked at this organization called the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC); it’s whole basis is to promote, fund, and research nonviolent tactics, ideas, and methods in the form of online and in person classes, events, and books. My favorite part of this internship was having my views of nonviolence change. I now view it in a much more meaningful and powerful manner.

How did the experience shape what you have done since or will do next?
I now have a greater insight into the field of policy and the career fields I can go into.  For instance, I hadn't really thought about the viability of being a part of think tanks or NGOs, and I also really fleshed out my thought process about whether or not I want to go into government.

How did your host city impact your overall experience?
Washington, D.C. is center of politics and policy, as well as food, and I enjoyed expanding both my mind and the diversity of food I have eaten. Furthermore, the public transportation was phenomenal. I will apply the idea I gained to many new places.