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A number of Bryn Mawr College students applied for and received funding to conduct research projects and study with a global concentration this spring/summer through the Global Bryn Mawr Student Fellowship. Those students were asked to share their experiences and how they were affected by the COVID-19 situation through words and images.

Name: Clara Costello
Class Year: 2022
Major: Environmental Studies
Program: CIS Abroad Virtual Internship in New Zealand
Location: Moved Online Due to COVID-19 (Based out of New Zealand)

Q. What led you to apply for this program?

A. I had been planning to study abroad in the fall of 2020. However, when school went remote due to COVID-19, I knew that my plans would have to change. I withdrew my study abroad application and wanted to find something to fill that gap. I began searching for summer jobs and/or internships to keep me busy at home, and found the CIS Abroad Virtual Internship program. This program allowed me to connect with the outside world, stay engaged with my field of interest, and gain valuable work experience in the midst of a pandemic.

Q. What did you do as part of the program?

A. I was paired with a company in New Zealand called Global Reach Associates. Global Reach Associates aids other organizations in securing funding and resources by helping with their planning and writing proposals for them. Most of the organizations that Global Reach Associates works with are focused on creating a more sustainable and resilient world. In my six week-long internship, I composed a newsletter for a cluster of businesses called Natural Hazards Inc. This newsletter included updates from various businesses in the group about their COVID-19 responses and other recent projects. In addition to composing the newsletter, I assisted my supervisor with research for future projects.

Q. What effect did COVID-19 have on your experience?

A. My experience would not have existed if not for COVID-19. All the previous interns that Global Reach Associates hosted actually traveled to New Zealand and lived there for three months. My internship, however, was half as long and was completed mostly asynchronously (aside from weekly meetings with my supervisor) due to the time difference. It was definitely a challenge to understand my role and to feel helpful in such a short amount of time and from so far away.

Q. What did you learn that surprised you?

A. When I interviewed for this internship, my supervisor emphasized how important writing would be and that I needed to be comfortable composing short articles for others to read. I panicked, as I have always been extremely anxious about writing and I tend to spend way too much time composing a simple email. Through this internship, I learned that if someone else can trust my ability to write for their company, then I should trust myself. I learned to just write without overthinking how others will perceive it. I became much quicker at writing and much more comfortable letting people see my work. Additionally, I learned that I could form a meaningful relationship with someone on the other side of the world in less than six weeks.

Q. What was your favorite part of this experience?

A. My favorite part about this experience was learning about New Zealand and all of the companies that Global Reach Associates works with. I did not know anything about New Zealand when the program started, but throughout my internship I learned about the current events, history, and culture of the country. I also got to research and interact with some organizations that are working to create a more sustainable and resilient future. It was super interesting to learn about what people are doing in the field of environmental studies and I felt lucky to be a small part of it.

Q. What advice or guidance would you offer future students?

A. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your supervisor if you have questions, comments, or concerns. Communication is key in creating a positive experience for both you and your host organization.