Alumni Interview with Courtney McCray

What inspired you to try a virtual international internship?

I have always had a passion for different cultures. This is something that I have wanted to be implemented in whichever career I choose. When the opportunity arose I felt that it was a perfect fit for me.

I want to do international business, and I feel like this internship allowed me the ability to step into that. I now know more of what a career in international business will look like.

Traveling is a good way to see the world for what it really is. I enjoy experiencing cultures through books and films, even through other people. It is a different treat, however, to be able to experience life somewhere else for yourself.

Why did you choose Global Learning Collective?

I chose this one specifically because of the timing of the offer. It came at a time when I was really looking for an internship to further my career. Also, I do feel like it checked all of the boxes as far as what I was looking for.

I was looking forward to the international and cultural aspect of it, as well as being able to work with a business, and even learning more about sustainability in general. I was also blessed to be able to receive a scholarship in order to be a part of the organization.

What was your favorite part about working virtually with South Africa?

My favorite part about working with South Africa was getting to experience the cultural aspects of the country. It was interesting to compare my personal experiences to others that I had met. 

Working with the company that we worked with was interesting and very helpful to our project. I needed to learn from them what their expectations were, but I also could contribute my own ideas that came from my own experiences and background.

I also learned a lot about the history of South Africa, which is something I never really got to learn. I have heard things about the country, but it was always through the lens of my own Americanized experiences.

What made your experience extraordinary?

My experience was made extraordinary by the people that I worked alongside with. I got to meet so many different people, and it was so cool to see how each person's mind worked differently when approaching an issue.

I worked on my own growth by working with these other incredibly gifted students. One issue I had never had to deal with was meeting other people to work on a project, with us all being in different time zones. This was something I am glad I was able to learn how to deal with; there were also sacrifices that had to be made.

How did the program staff support you throughout your program?

The staff supported me by providing us with as much information as we needed. From the time I signed up for the internship, I was informed about everything. They told us when they did not have information, when we could next expect information, and who to contact if we needed more information.

They were also very understanding about things that we had going on as students. It was difficult to coordinate our schedules, but the leaders understood that and made sure to listen to what we needed to get the most out of our experience.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your internship?

One thing I wish I had done differently is make a few more sacrifices so that I could get the most out of my experience. I feel like I did not commit fully to some aspects of the program. This was mainly due to fear.

I have always been a timid person, and it is challenging to step out of that sometimes. I am aiming to improve that though because I do not want fear to allow me to miss out on life. Therefore, I think that if I would have pushed myself a little more, then I would have gotten more out of it.

Describe what a typical day in your life looked like during your virtual experience.

A typical day in the program looked fairly busy. I would first wake up fairly early to get on one or two calls about more details with the program. My group would meet to discuss things about South Africa and sustainability in general, then we would meet to go over information needed to continue working on our projects.

I would then continue on to classes and work, taking time during the day to work on my individual part of the project. At the end of the night, depending on the day, my group would meet again to discuss our progress with what we were working on.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time from your program?

During free time I enjoyed just getting to know the other students in my group. We would talk about life goals, school, sports, social media, even meeting up in the future. These were the times that I would be nervous about just because I am a shy person, but I also enjoyed these moments because I felt seen.

These were the most intimate times because I was able to learn about the people I worked with on a deeper level, which improved the work quality. I noticed that some groups were not very connected in their presentations, and we would hear how they would never meet altogether, even if each individual worked on their part.

What did you like best about a virtual program?

Our program was virtual, so we were able to be in the comfort of our own surroundings. I appreciated that quite a bit because the internship in itself was out of my comfort zone. Thus, being in my own environment made it easier to bear.

However, I will say that being in my own environment was also a crutch at times. I was unable to push myself out of that comfort when things would get difficult, so I do hope to be part of an experience that pushes me more as well. I do appreciate the fact that I was able to still get a full experience despite being at home.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

Everyone should know that this opportunity gives you back what you put into it. There are so many opportunities for learning and growth here that will only be tapped once you put forth the effort.

I think it is personally worth it to get all that you can out of the experience, for you will not regret it. I do think that it is possible to get not very much at all from this experience, especially with it being virtual. Therefore, the more you put in, the more you will get out.

Would you recommend Global Learning Collective to others? Why?

I would definitely recommend for this to be a program that people should experience. I think that because it was virtual, there were other added aspects and challenges to it. As I mentioned before, I know that there are so many things you can learn from a program like this.

You will meet new people, learn new cultures, and be challenged. I think the most rewarding part is succeeding in the project with your group, which I am so glad I got to experience. I also think that this is a good thing to simply be able to add to your resume.

Having experience working alongside different types of people will be very beneficial to you in your future career.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

The biggest benefit is seeing the world from a different perspective. It is amazing to see so many differences as well as similarities between you and someone your same age but from the other side of the world.

It pushes your thinking as long as you are open to the new experiences. Taking time to listen to my peers and talk to them was something so simple, yet that made such a difference in improving my learning experience.

I think it’s important to be able to see something from a different point of view. You may never realize what potential other people hold and can bring to the table unless you listen to them and connect with them, despite differences.

How has your virtual experience impacted your life?

This has allowed me to reflect on who I am as a person as well as my goals. I now know more about my strengths and weaknesses simply because I was put into an experience that was out of my comfort zone.

I have more knowledge and experience that I can take with me in my career now and in the future. I greatly appreciate the fact that I get to be an ambassador and tell others about my experience. I was surprised that I was one of the people chosen, but I love it. I get to share what I went through, as well as help anyone else prepare if they want a great experience as well.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel, in my opinion, means defining the reason you are traveling and trying your best to fulfill that goal. Whether it is a vacation simply for relaxation or an internship to learn, I think all types of travel can be meaningful once you make it so.

Putting purpose behind everything that you do will help you to receive the greatest benefits from every experience. I think that every day is a chance to learn something new, so, in my opinion, as long as you can do that when you travel, then you will be better off.