It doesn’t feel real that I am leaving Sweden. I have gotten so used to living here and adapting to their culture, I am not ready to go home. Living in Sweden the past two months has been the most amazing experience I could have asked for. I learned so much personally, professionally, and culturally. Honestly, this week has been spent focusing on friends. Work was quite slow this week and I wanted to soak up the last few days I had with my friends. A lot of us live in different states, so us all being in the same place again is rare. It is so strange to me that I came into this program knowing no one, and now I’m leaving with people that I hope become life long friends. There is something so special about meeting new people and then traveling the world with them. Getting to share all these new experiences, it is just so special. Each night of this week we all hung out, whether that was getting dinner, playing games, or just sitting and talking for hours. I would say we had a good last week together. I truly never expected to meet people I like so much, and I’m eternally grateful for it.
Throughout my internship in Stockholm, I have noticed that the definition of professional success is different from what I am used to in the United States. In the states, I feel like success is often associated with constantly working, putting in extra hours outside of work, and constantly being available. Some may say we have a “toxic” relationship with working, but I believe we see it as a sign of dedication and ambition. While hard work is still important in Sweden, I have learned that success is measured a bit differently.Here, there is a much stronger emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. When the workday is over, people leave the office and focus on their personal lives without feeling guilty about it.
In the fashion media industry, I have also learned that a successful employee is someone who is dependable, creative, and adaptable. Since every week looks different, it is important to be flexible and willing to take on new tasks quickly. During my internship, I have written articles for the online magazine, interviewed singers, helped prepare clothing for photoshoots, attended events, and assisted with many different tasks. Being successful in this environment means being able to adjust quickly, communicate well with others, and complete tasks independently. Creativity is also highly valued because there is often more than one right way to approach a project. The first time my boss asked me to do something creative, I was nervous it wouldn’t be up to her standards since I had little experience, but instead she really liked it. From there she continued to trust me to do creative tasks for the website.
Comparing Sweden to the United States has made me realize that success does not have to mean constantly working. In the United States, there is often pressure to always be busy and prove your dedication and ambition by working longer and harder. In the states, I think a lot of people experience burnout because of how much they are overworking themselves. When I am home, I see my Dad using his work phone on weekends to get back to people. In Sweden, I didn’t experience that at all, every one in a while my boss would text me after hours, but she never expected a response until the next day. And on the weekends she never reached out and let us enjoy our time off.
In Sweden, success seems to be about working efficiently, producing high-quality work, and maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life. I think both approaches have their strengths, but this experience has shown me the importance of setting boundaries and taking time to recharge. As I continue my career, I hope to combine the strong work ethic I have developed in the United States with the healthy work-life balance I have observed in Sweden. I believe this combination will help me become both a successful employee and maintain a more balanced lifestyle.
