DR. LEGGETT: So let's talk about Dublin a little bit. We've got a great picture here of Dublin. What is this that we're looking at?
Student: So this photo is actually-- you'll see some people there kayaking down the Liffey, which is a body of water that divides the city of Dublin into the north side and the south side. So that bridge, I've walked across it many times. And I actually would see probably that exact image as I was going to and from work because I would catch the bus at the Liffey. So I'm feeling very nostalgic when looking at this photo. But this is something that you would--
[interposing voices]
Student: --this is something that you would very typically see if you were walking around in Dublin.
DR. LEGGETT: This is you with your internship supervisor. Can you tell us a little bit more about what you were doing?
Student: Yeah. So as I said, my internship was in Dublin and it was at Bon Secours Hospital. And Bon Secours is the largest private health care provider in Ireland. They have several different locations, but I was located in Dublin. And this photo is of me and my supervisor, Dearbhail McKee.
I learned so much from my time there-- in my time working with Dearbhail in human resources. I felt like I was really given access to so much during my short time there. And they really welcomed me and treated me like I was really a part of the team. And even still now, because my time there actually inspired my treatise because they're going through some big organizational changes right now.
So I'm actually studying their communication strategy and the employee perception of how effective that communication has been. And Dearbhail is-- she's acting as my professional reader for my treatise. So we've been keeping in touch and still able to collaborate, even though we're thousands of miles apart. [laughs]
DR. LEGGETT: Hey, it speaks to how valuable your assistance was to her while you were there, that she has wanted to keep you involved. That's great. OK, I'm sure people would love to know more about what was involved in getting yourself to Dublin for a summer internship. Can you hit some of the high points of the program?
Student: Yeah. So this was actually-- I love talking about this experience because just a little background about me. I hadn't been out of the country since I was 10 years old. So this was my first international experience. So anytime that you're doing something like that, for the first time, there's going to be a little bit of uncertainty and a little anxiety. But I feel like it was just made so easy for me and the rest of those in my cohort that went along too.
And the program is just eight weeks. And I'm sure that there are people on the line that are thinking eight weeks might be forever, but it goes by so extremely fast. It's unbelievable. And anybody who applies for this internship placement in Dublin, then you're given so many tools to succeed. They go through various professional development sessions with you. They'll go through strengths finder, and they'll talk about your particular strengths that you should highlight in your resume and your cover letter before sending that information out to businesses there.
I mean, lodging and everything was already set up for us, which I was so grateful for. We stayed at University College, Dublin. And the accommodations were so nice. And we really were able to maintain some privacy. I know in undergraduate, when you're staying in dorms and you have to share everything with somebody else, it can be a little-- you can feel like you're a little bit on top of each other. But we had our own space.
And I actually was able to share-- the hallway that I was on at UCD, we had all of the students from USC were on the same hallway. So that was really nice. We really kind of created our own little family in there. And we had our-- we had a kitchen and a living space that we all shared, and a study room. And we definitely made use of those spaces and had late nights together.
We had-- on campus, there's 24/7 on-site staff. So if you forget your key or if you lose it or something, if you can't get into your room, then you can give them a call, and they'll be there in like 5 to 10 minutes. I've definitely done that.
And before you even go, there are a ton of questions that people have before doing something like this. And a pre-departure webinar is hosted. So you can ask any last-minute questions. There's a welcome orientation when you get there and social and cultural professional events, which really give you the opportunity to get to know the rest of the people that are there with you, and kind of form and foster new relationships.
DR. LEGGETT: You mentioned that you were there with some other students from MAPP, and I think I recognize some of them in these photos. Can you tell us who else was there and how you all got along?
Student: Yeah. So these are-- I mean, this-- actually, Dr. Leggett, you were there. You were there for this. And this group is-- not everybody is from the same cohort. Actually, there's a student in here who was on campus. But we all became quite close as we were living and working together in Dublin.
And we all had different internships in Dublin, but we spent a significant amount of time together outside of work, living together, and just going out and exploring the city and surrounding cities as well.
DR. LEGGETT: So it was a fun group. And you were all from different parts of the country too. As I'm looking at the group, I see-- I know one was from Florida, you're from Texas, a couple were from LA. And you mentioned you weren't at the same point in the program. Were you talking about classes and getting input from people who had already taken classes about what ones you might want?
Student: Oh, yeah. Definitely. We were all-- there were a few of us that are in the same cohort. So that was really nice because we had some of the same classes together while we were there. Because we were still taking class while we were in Dublin. And so that made it a little easier for group projects. We could just sit down together and collaborate, where we actually wouldn't have been able to normally because we live in different states.
So that was really fun to actually be able to sit down with the person and be like, hey, yeah I know you. We've had many classes together. But now, I get to really sit down with you and get to know you a little bit better. And there is somebody here who had already graduated. And so he was a great resource to the rest of us who hadn't graduated yet because we got to pick his brain a little bit about treatise and about some of our upcoming courses, and what to expect. So that was really great.
And then we had someone there who was in the middle of treatise at that time. So she was also a really good resource to the rest of us. So having everybody there who was at a different point in the program, and just in a different stage of life in general, was really valuable to be able to kind of collaborate together and support each other.
DR. LEGGETT: And I know when I visited you, we had fun going out to dinner together too. You mentioned where you lived. And this next slide has some familiar sites, I think, for you, but the residence hall you lived in was upper in the left side there. Do you want to tell us any more, what we're looking at here?
Student: So that picture at the top to the left, that was my residence at UCD. It was very, very nice. And below that, you would see this is a very typical scene in Dublin, with all of the beautiful greenery and the architecture, and even with the photo that you see to the right at the bottom.
You would-- I mean, walking around Dublin, you'll just see shops and pubs and restaurants, and all these cool little places just kind of scattered around the city in this beautiful architecture. And then in the middle, those photos you would see, like that top one, is of the cliffs. And they're just so-- I mean, they're gorgeous.
We actually took a trip to the Cliffs of Moher as part of-- that was kind of set up for us as part of the program going to Dublin. And we had such an amazing day there. And we were super lucky to have awesome weather when we went. But this is all very, very typical of what you would see in Dublin and around Dublin. And it's a very social and active city. Everybody is super nice and really inviting.