Sage Corps: International Internships at Startups

When I first learned about Sage Corps and its study abroad programs, I didn’t think much of it. I applied for the program and chose to study in Sydney, Australia. I didn’t believe I was traveling to Australia, even when I got accepted into the Sydney Program! After boarding my first flight, I still didn’t feel like I was going to Australia. My time in Sydney was an eye-opening and life-changing experience. The first thing I noticed was the Australian community. The places I traveled, people were welcoming and offered their help whenever they could. The amount of diversity and culture was astonishing! There were all types of people from all over the world here in one city. I loved it so much. Exploring Sydney’s nature, landmarks, and city life were beautiful. Sydney has the best of both worlds: nature and the city. If you prefer nature, there is plenty of natural aesthetics throughout the suburbs, as well as beaches, mountains, parks, etc. If you enjoy the city more, there are many activities to explore , like the famous landmarks: the Sydney Bridge, the Opera House, QVB, etc. When I traveled to Australia, there were always events that were going on that promoted culture, holidays, self-care, and many other things! I was fortunate to meet a group of Sage Corps interns who shared a similar mindset and appreciated the opportunities in Sydney. The people I met made Australia feel like another home to me. I’m honored and happy that I had the pleasure of sharing the memories and experiences I created with this group of people. I still think of them today :) My internship experience at Breakawave made a significant impact on my life. The company is about sourcing services and goods that customers need. The foundation and story behind Breakawave are inspirational and admirable because it is all about paying it forward. I had the pleasure of meeting the founder, Jonny Baird, who showed me how to view life with positivity and opportunities. I learned a lot about the little things in life that can make a huge impact. Zac Deane is another inspiring person who I met because of Breakawave. He showed me a side of health that I was not unaware and how everything can impact how you feel. Jonny and Zac both hold a tremendous amount of knowledge and share it to the world out of their kindness. The opportunity that Sage Corps provides is more than I could ever ask. Everyone has a different story and path with their study abroad journey. "Travel is the best investment you can make in yourself" is a quote I truly felt after Australia. Needless to say, I appreciate every experience with Sage Corps. Thank you.

Last summer I had an unbelievable time in Paris. I completed a Marketing internship at Watch Certificate, a startup company that certifies and provides market valuations for luxury watches. At Watch Certificate I had the opportunity to create comparative analysis models of the international watch market, expand company contacts through global outreach, refine their unique selling proposition, and redesign their website using Figma to enhance the user experience. I met some of my best friends that I am currently studying and traveling abroad with. Sage Corps allowed me to experience Paris like a local and provided me with a sense of security in a foreign country.

I wanted to study/intern abroad to learn more about myself both personally and professionally, and Sage Corps gave me exactly what I wanted and more. My internship options were tailored exactly to my interests, and from seeing my cohorts' placements it seemed that was the case for everybody. The internship-matching process is one of the things that stands Sage Corps out from other intern-abroad programs, among their commitment to cultural immersion and student safety. We had lovely Sage Corps staff in Sydney that helped us feel looked after and supported while being in a foreign country, and this local staff was also able to pick out the best cultural and professional events for us to attend. Sage Corps also has a large and lively alumni base that was happy to connect with Sage Corps prospects before going abroad (I connected with alumni from the program in 2018 and 2019!). Despite all this, along with boosting my resume and professional experience with my dream internship, the people in my cohort are what made this experience the most special. Getting to live abroad for 2 months with students from all over the country in a multitude of disciplines (hand-picked by Sage Corps staff to ensure everyone is like-minded and driven) made for a truly life-changing experience that I am thankful for every day.