Looking back on my internship at the Centro de Idiomas at the University of Alicante, I feel extremely grateful for the experience and more aware of how much I grew over those three months. When I first began, I was not completely sure what to expect. I knew I would be completing tasks related to communication, research, translation, and student engagement, but I did not fully realize how much the experience would teach me about independence, workplace culture, and my own professional confidence. Now that the internship is over, I can see that the value of the experience was not only in the work I completed, but also in the way it pushed me to adapt to a new environment and better understand the kind of professional I want to become.

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One of the biggest lessons I took away from this internship was learning how to work more independently. A lot of my daily tasks required me to rely on myself, whether I was creating pamphlets, researching activities for students, translating materials, or thinking about how to communicate information clearly to an international audience. At times, this felt challenging because I did not always have someone directly guiding me through every step. However, over time, I became more comfortable trusting my instincts and taking initiative. This internship also helped me understand how different workplace cultures can be. In Spain, the work environment felt more flexible, relaxed, and personal than what I am used to in the United States. Experiencing this taught me that professionalism does not look the same everywhere, and that being successful in an international setting requires adaptability, patience, and cultural awareness.

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One of the most meaningful parts of the internship was helping international students feel more connected to Alicante. Since I was also studying abroad, I understood how important that sense of belonging can be. Activities like city tours, cooking classes, and cultural events showed me how even small efforts can make students feel more included and supported in a new place. The APUNE conference was another experience that stood out because it allowed me to step into a more formal professional environment and meet educators, sponsors, professionals, and other interns in the study abroad field. I took on different roles during the conference, from helping with simple tasks to interacting with guests and leading a group. Even when certain responsibilities seemed small, I learned that every role matters when people are working toward a shared goal.

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Overall, my internship at the Centro de Idiomas taught me a lot about professional life and about myself. I learned how to be more independent, how to communicate across cultures, how to adapt to a different work environment, and how to see value in both large and small responsibilities. More than anything, this experience gave me confidence. There were moments when I felt unsure of myself, but those moments helped me grow the most because they forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and trust that I was capable of figuring things out. Now that the experience is over, I am leaving with stronger communication skills, more cultural awareness, and a clearer understanding of the type of work I find meaningful which is work that involves people, creativity, culture, and connection.