Boston University is up next in our University Spotlight series! This summer, we had two fellows leave the beautiful city of Boston to travel the world as Sage Corps fellows. We interviewed them to find out more about their adventures in Melbourne and Paris.
TRISH UTOMO
Trish lived in Melbourne, Australia this summer and worked as an intern for Collective Campus, an education and innovation consultancy helping corporations adopt methods, mindsets and tools to explore disruptive innovation.
She’s a student in Questrom studying Management Information Systems and Marketing.
What were some of your main responsibilities at your internship?
“I was able to dip my toes into a lot of different areas of the business. For example, I worked on creating infographics for the different blogs that are on their websites, making them easy to break down and more accessible. We were able to post the infographics on social media to gain attention. Along with this, I wrote case studies for innovation reports that were sent out to other companies who requested to be analyzed by Collective Campus.”
What was one of your biggest wins of the summer?
“One of the biggest challenges I successfully overcame this summer was actually having the discipline to plan my own trips. I’ve been blessed to have parents who I’ve gotten my adventurous spirit from and they’ve usually been the ones who plan everything, but this time I got to do things on my own. Along with that, I learned my way around a new city.”
What was the most valuable lesson/ most valuable skill you learned or strengthened during your internship?
“The most valuable lesson I’ve strengthened through my internship is to remain curious and ask questions. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the people around you are genuinely there for you to teach you what you want to learn. Being open is your best bet at learning and getting the most out of your work.”
What is the most valuable lesson/ most valuable skill you’ve learned or strengthened while abroad in your city?
“The most valuable lesson I’ve strengthened by being abroad is to do what I can while I can. Not everyone has the opportunity to be in an amazing, new city — and taking advantage of such a great opportunity is a necessity. Do your research and make sure you have a general idea of what you want to do while you’re in a new country because there’s a never-ending list of places to visit and things to do. You’ll definitely want to use your time wisely and prioritize. And don’t chicken out! It’s easy to stick to the script because it’s much simpler to not put in the effort it takes to plan, but you’ll be more than grateful that you took the leap and did something new. But while you’re adventuring, be courteous to the natives. We have our customs, and they have theirs, and while you’re a guest in their country, it’s important to be polite.”
How has this experience helped you get closer to achieving your post-graduation/ career goals?
“This experience has helped me get closer to my career goals by exposing me to all areas of a business and showing me what I’m good at and what I’m truly passionate about. It has pushed me to stay on top of my goals and to reflect everyday on what I’ve learned and what I’ve accomplished. Not only has it showed me what I’m good at, it has showed me what I’m bad at (and other trouble areas that I can improve upon).”
Post-graduation, Trish hopes to find a full-time job, either in the States or abroad, and “settle down and start her own life.” She hopes to eventually obtain an MBA.
NICOLAS HUNT
Nicolas is a sophomore studying Computer Engineering. This summer, he lived in Paris, France and worked as an intern for 202 Ecommerce, a young and dynamic ecommerce agency based in Paris.
What were some of your main responsibilities at 202 Ecommerce?
“I worked on a testing program to aid fellow developers with testing their PrestaShop modules. (For those of our readers that don’t know, PrestaShop is a free ecommerce software platform).”
What was the most valuable lesson/ most valuable skill you learned or strengthened during your internship?
“The most valuable skill I gained was familiarizing myself with the PHP programming language and object oriented programming in general.”
What is the most valuable lesson/ most valuable skill you’ve learned or strengthened while abroad in your city?
“This experience has definitely been a unique one and the professional and technical skills I gained will help me find a suitable job after graduation.”
Why did you decide to participate in Sage Corps?
“I decided to participate in Sage Corps because I wanted the ability to travel while also developing my professional career.”
What’s the most fun / coolest thing you did with your cohort this summer?
“The coolest thing I did with my cohort was explore the city of Paris and its wonderful people without constraints.”
Post graduation, Nicholas hopes to find a suitable job.
We hope you enjoyed reading about some of our BU fellows’ experiences! Stay tuned to see more university spotlights.
Nicolas and other Sage Corps Paris fellows enjoying an authentic French dinner
Interning abroad provides valuable experience that employers love to see. Join the less than 1% of college students gaining international work experience today.
