As I reach the halfway point of my time abroad, I’ve been reflecting on the skills I’ve been developing, both soft and hard and how this experience is shaping me personally and professionally. Living and working in a different country has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t totally expect. Especially when it comes to how I communicate, carry myself at work, and take initiative. It’s been a mix of learning how to adjust, step up, and connect with people across a different culture.

In terms of soft skills, one of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is how much more open and conversational I’ve become. I’ve always considered myself someone who can hold a conversation, but being in Spain has really pushed me to be more outgoing in a consistent, everyday way. Whether it’s chatting with coworkers over coffee, making small talk during lunch, or asking someone about local customs at the bar, I’ve become more comfortable initiating conversations and keeping them going. In a culture where social interaction is a big part of both life and work, I’ve learned that being warm, chatty, and curious goes a long way.

At the same time, I’ve learned how to balance being social with staying focused and professional. The workplace here has a relaxed energy, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t serious about their work. It just means they know how to mix productivity with a strong sense of community. I’ve picked up on the fact that building relationships is part of getting the job done. People are more willing to collaborate and help when there’s trust and connection. That’s been a big soft skill for me, knowing when to be light and personable, and when to lock in and deliver.

On the hard skills side, this internship has given me more creative freedom and responsibility than I’m used to. Back home, most of my academic or part-time work has involved being given detailed instructions and just executing them. Here, it’s different. I’m often assigned a task with a broad objective and expected to figure out how to approach it. At first, that felt like a pain honestly, I kept wondering if I was doing it “right.” Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the trust and flexibility. It’s taught me how to take initiative, manage my own workflow, and be more confident in my decision-making.

Another hard skill I’ve developed is knowing when and how to ask for help. When I’m unsure about something, I’ve learned to reach out and not just for clarification, but for feedback and even for more work. It’s been empowering to realize that I’m not here to just complete tasks, but to grow and contribute. Asking for more responsibility or requesting feedback has helped me learn faster, and it’s also shown my team that I’m engaged and serious about doing a good job. It’s been a learning curve, but one that’s definitely paid off.

All of these experiences have also helped me build my global competencies, basically, the ability to work across cultures and adapt to new environments. Living and working in Spain has taught me that things don’t always run on the same schedule, operate with the same pace, or follow the same rules I’m used to in the U.S. That could have thrown me off, but I’ve tried to adapt into it instead. I’ve become more flexible, more observant, and more patient. I pay attention to how people communicate and behave, and I try to adjust based on that.

For example, I’ve learned that directness in communication works differently here. People are polite but not always as blunt as we can be in American workplaces. So when giving or receiving feedback, I’ve had to tune into tone and context a little more carefully. That’s a cultural skill I know I’ll carry with me, especially if I end up working in international settings in the future. Another global competency I’ve built is cultural humility. Even when I think I “get” something about Spanish culture, there’s always more to learn. Whether it’s how people approach time, how they handle conflict, or how they organize their workdays, I’ve had to let go of the idea that my way is the real way. That mindset including being open, curious, and willing to adjust has helped me navigate differences without frustration.

Overall, this experience has helped me grow in subtle but powerful ways. I’ve become more confident socially, more responsible professionally, and more aware of how culture influences everything from work habits to relationships. The mix of soft and hard skills I’m developing here isn’t just helping me succeed during the internship. It’s setting me up to be more adaptable, capable, and globally-minded for when I enter the workforce and adult life back at home.