Grateful that I took the chance

Being a Black Muslim women coming from a low-income household, traveling abroad was something I could only dream of. I was never in search of study/intern abroad opportunities because of the fact I believed I couldn’t afford it.

This summer, I was granted the opportunity to intern abroad in Seoul, South Korea. I spent 8 weeks learning, embracing, and studying South Korean culture. I gained real-world knowledge in professionalism in the workplace, and also undertook activities I never thought would be possible. I fell in love with the different foods, I even got to try Bingsu which is a Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. The locals there where very nice and welcoming which caused my worries to lessen.

Having the chance to travel to the other side of the world not only taught me a lot about myself but that I shouldn’t be afraid to take opportunities no matter my situation. This whole experience was eye opening. I put pressure on myself to take advantage of this opportunity, but I learned later on that it is ok to slow down, although I wanted to see everything that was impossible to do within an 8-week period. I also learned a lot about what I value in a workplace, I even made a bit of a career change because of this experience. This opportunity also caused me to feel more prepared for my life after graduation because if I can work in a whole different country where English is not the first language and get by, then imagine what I can do back in America.

I am so grateful I was able to undertake such an amazing opportunity that allowed me to immerse in a new environment, culture, and way of life. I will cherish the lifelong memories and friends that I have acquired from this program.

Name: Mumina Abdi
Status: Senior
Major: Games and Interactive Media
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Program: Internships in Seoul