The International Internship Program gave me the opportunity to spend the summer in Madrid, a beautiful city in the heart of Spain where history, culture, and everyday life come together in a unique way. Thanks to the generosity of my scholarship donor, I was able to immerse myself in a new environment, gain valuable professional experience, and develop skills that I will carry with me for years to come. What began as an opportunity to strengthen my resume quickly became one of the most meaningful learning experiences of my college career. I am incredibly grateful for the support that made this experience possible.
During my internship, I worked at Jaleo Madrid, a language school dedicated to helping students from around the world learn Spanish through online courses, private lessons, intensive group classes, and part-time programs. I was placed in the sales department, where I worked closely with the lead salesperson and communicated with current and prospective students. My daily responsibilities included responding to inquiries through email, WhatsApp, and in-person visits, answering questions about our programs, and helping students determine which course best fit their goals. Although I was not responsible for closing sales, I learned how to confidently present the school’s services and explain why our programs could meet each student’s individual needs. Every conversation was different, and I quickly realized that success was not about giving the perfect answer but about listening carefully and understanding what each student was looking for.
While I expected to gain professional experience, I did not expect how much I would grow personally. Living in Madrid meant constantly stepping outside my comfort zone. Whether it was navigating the metro, communicating in another language, or adjusting to Spain’s different pace of life, every day required me to adapt. At first, I found myself comparing everything to home. As the weeks passed, I stopped comparing and started appreciating those differences. I became more comfortable with uncertainty and learned that not every situation needs an immediate solution. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stay patient, remain open-minded, and trust that you will figure it out. That confidence is something I did not have when I arrived in Spain, but it is something I will carry with me long after returning home.
The internship also changed the way I think about communication. Before this summer, I believed effective communication meant providing clear answers as efficiently as possible. At Jaleo, I saw that building relationships was just as important as sharing information. Conversations with students often focused on getting to know them before discussing courses. My coworkers took the time to understand each person’s goals, interests, and concerns before recommending a program. Watching these interactions taught me that trust is built through genuine conversation, and that lesson has changed the way I approach both professional and personal relationships.
Academically, this internship allowed me to connect what I have learned at the University of Pittsburgh with real-world experience. As a Global Management major with minors in Spanish and Portuguese, I was able to apply both my business knowledge and my language skills in a professional setting. Concepts like cross-cultural communication, international business, and customer relationship management became much more meaningful because I experienced them firsthand instead of simply reading about them in a textbook. Returning to Pitt, I know I will contribute to classroom discussions with a perspective that can only come from living and working abroad. Rather than viewing international business as a collection of theories, I now understand how culture influences the way people communicate, make decisions, and build professional relationships every day.
Professionally, this experience taught me the importance of initiative and adaptability. There were days when my responsibilities changed unexpectedly or when there was no clear list of tasks to complete. Instead of waiting for someone to tell me what to do, I learned to ask questions, find ways to contribute, and look for opportunities to help my coworkers. That shift in mindset taught me that being a valuable employee is not just about completing assigned tasks but about taking ownership of your work and being willing to solve problems independently. These are qualities that I know employers value, and they are skills I will continue to develop throughout my career.
As I continue my education and eventually begin my career, I know this experience will continue to shape the way I approach new opportunities. Whether I work for a multinational company or collaborate with people from different backgrounds, I will do so with greater confidence, stronger communication skills, and a much broader perspective than I had before leaving for Madrid. Looking back, I realize this summer gave me much more than professional experience. It gave me greater independence, lifelong friendships, and the confidence to succeed in an unfamiliar environment. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of my scholarship donor. Thank you for investing in my education and making this unforgettable experience possible. Your support allowed me to grow not only as a student and future professional, but also as a person.