Global Research and Internships Program: A Summer in Sydney

As I was applying to colleges, I knew that I wanted to attend a school that would provide plenty of opportunities to go abroad. From semesters and years abroad, to global seminars, to summer abroad programs, Penn certainly fit that criterion. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to take part in the Global Research and Internships Program (GRIP) at Penn. This program essentially matches Penn students with internships around the world, and provides the funding to enable us to have these internship experiences. It’s a great opportunity for students who may not want to miss any time on campus during the school year but still want to go abroad, or for students interested in gaining work experience while still spending time abroad. Penn sent seven other students and me to Sydney, Australia for two months. We were matched with internship opportunities, set up with housing and funding to cover most of our expenses, and were even enrolled in a course at the University of Sydney.

Personally, I worked at global crowdfunding platform dedicated to supporting projects that benefit the social good. I served as an Entrepreneurial Intern, and I was able to redesign the company’s website and run several successful marketing campaigns. Being able to gain such valuable and hands on internship experience while also having an abroad experience was incredibly valuable to me. As someone interested in pursuing more of a business related career, Penn also enrolled me in a course about Australian business culture to enhance my abroad experience.

I cannot even begin to describe how amazing this summer was. Aside from working at a great company (which I was actually hired to work for remotely from Philly during the school year) and learning so much at one of Australia’s most prestigious universities, I was also able to forge incredible relationships and explore life on the other side of the world. I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, met some koalas, and truly had the best two months of my life.

-Rachel W, C’20