As we approached our very last week in Ireland, I made sure to prioritize my internship work while also spending as much time as possible with the friends I had made while abroad. It was weird knowing that after spending almost two months in the same routine, everything was about to come to an end. The places that had become familiar, the commute to work, the coffee shops, and even the walk back to the apartment all started to feel a little more meaningful because I knew I would not be doing them much longer.
My last project at work was quite the task, but honestly, I really enjoyed it. This may sound stupid, but I genuinely love to work. I work well under pressure, and when my supervisor asked me to write a report on the last two weeks of shadowing various individuals in different sectors with only two days left, I knew I had to work hard to get it done right and make it well thought out. Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to observe various recruiters, managers, and departments, so I had a lot of information to organize. I wanted the report to accurately reflect everything I had learned rather than just being something I rushed to finish.
To be completely honest, I was slightly overwhelmed by this task because many of my friends had “literally nothing” to do at their internships during the last week. Some did not even have to go in at all. Being surrounded by peers who seemed to have no responsibilities while I still had deadlines to meet was a little frustrating at first. It felt like everyone else had already mentally started vacation while I was still focused on work. Even though I definitely had moments where I wished I could spend the entire week exploring Dublin with everyone else, I knew it was important that I finished strong. I wanted to leave my internship knowing that I gave it my best effort from the first day to the last.
Balancing work and my personal life ended up being one of the biggest lessons I learned throughout the summer. I had to make sure I stayed productive during the day so that I could fully enjoy my evenings without worrying about unfinished work. It reminded me that sometimes you cannot do everything at once, but you can manage your time well enough to enjoy both your responsibilities and the experiences around you.
Prioritizing my social life this week included going out for dinner with my friends, finding new beer gardens to sit and hang out in, and, late in the evening, exploring new areas of Dublin while also revisiting some of our favorite places. Since we all knew our time together was coming to an end, nobody really wanted to stay inside. Even something as simple as grabbing food or walking around the city became something we looked forward to because we knew we only had a few chances left to do it together.
It really was one of the best weeks here in Ireland for a couple of reasons. At this point, our big group of 14 people from three different universities had all gotten really close with each other—it almost felt like family. At the beginning of the program, we were all strangers, but over the weeks we became the people we relied on every day. Whether it was figuring out public transportation, planning weekend trips, or just deciding where to eat after work, we always seemed to end up together. It is kind of crazy how quickly people can become such an important part of your life.
Everyone was in a great mood. Even if we were tired after work, we knew we had to get out and explore the last bits of Ireland before we left. There was definitely a bittersweet feeling throughout the week. We were excited to make the most of our remaining time, but at the same time none of us wanted it to end. Nostalgia hit me during the smaller moments with my friends. Walking through the city, sitting in a park, or laughing over dinner would randomly remind me of week one, when we were all just getting to know each other. Looking back, it is crazy to think about how much we all grew individually and how much closer we became as a group.
I genuinely do not think I would trade this experience for the world. We were really fortunate to have found such a great group of people in such a great country that gave us more than we could have asked for. I came into this program hoping to gain professional experience, but I am leaving with so much more than that. I have become more independent, more confident, and more comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone. I also met people that I know I will stay in touch with long after this program ends.
I think success is defined differently depending on the company you work for in Ireland. Generally, success is measured by KPIs and overall work ethic within the company. At my internship, success was largely measured by sales and how many placements consultants could make each week. They had weekly revenue goals tied to their salaries through a formula I, unfortunately, cannot remember. By the end of each week, some departments compiled a report on their revenue and submitted it to their director so everyone could see how they were performing.
Other than my summer job at home, I have not yet worked professionally in the career I want to pursue, so I cannot fully compare the Irish workplace to that of the United States. However, based on what I imagine the U.S. workplace to be like, I would say they are probably more similar than different. Both seem to value productivity, accountability, and meeting goals. One thing I did notice, though, is that the Irish seem to place a stronger emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. People worked hard during the day, but they also genuinely valued spending time with family and friends once the workday was over. I think that is something I will definitely take with me moving forward. Watching my coworkers balance their professional responsibilities while still making time for their personal lives showed me that success is not just about how much you accomplish at work, but also about creating a life outside of it that you enjoy.