Harrington completes internship in Costa Rica; receives prestigious scholarship

"Improving my Spanish and increasing my cultural awareness were my main goals. Working with locals in Costa Rica was phenomenal for both language improvement and exposure to different cultures and mindsets,哈林顿说.

Harrington chose four different job sites. 1月, she traveled to Puerto Viejo in southeast Costa Rica where she worked at a yoga retreat eco-lodge as a kitchen hand for four weeks then spent a couple of weeks in Panama and other locations in Costa Rica.

Her second job was in La Fortuna, in the north-central region. There, she worked at a reception desk in a hostel for two weeks. 在那次演出之后, she went to Tamarindo in the northwest where she worked in a kitchen and coffee bar at a surf camp for three weeks.

“Within my jobs relating to cooking and serving, I was able to apply principles I learned from my nutrition classes. I also was able to see biodiverse landscapes and animals which was very cool to connect the concepts I learned in biology and chemistry. The Familia Spanish Club at CSC also helped me to arrive in Costa Rica with existing Spanish skills,哈林顿说.

She completed her internship experience in a small, 北部, mountain town as a tour guide and social media video creator for a whitewater rafting and waterfall excursion company.

Before flying back to the U.S., Harrington visited Nicaragua making the total length of her trip a little more than 13 weeks. She earned five credit hours through the internship and an additional seven credit hours through online classes to finish her degree.

“Traveling solo is a transformative experience. I learned a lot about problem-solving, connecting with many types of people, and different cultures and lifestyles,”她说。. “There are many factors you cannot control but you can always control your reaction to and perception of events. Being on my own pushed me outside my comfort zone and I developed a more open mindset to other people and experiences. Lastly, I learned the importance kindness and acceptance have on impacting others.”

Harrington recommends an international internship to other students interested in expanding their horizons.

“This experience showed me there are many opportunities out there, so if you are interested in going off the beaten path and traveling or pursuing something different, don’t be afraid and just go for it. Even in the tough and less-than-ideal situations, I learned so much that will help me immensely in my future both personally and professionally,”她说。.

5月, Harrington received a prestigious Scott Scholars award to assist in her professional medical education at the University of 内布拉斯加州 Medical Center. UNMC provides in-state tuition, and the Scott Scholars program covers room, 董事会, and a stipend to fund professional and research opportunities for four years. Scott Scholars will reside in a living-learning community near UNMC. Harrington and her cohort will participate in unique experiential learning opportunities at UNMC and across the nation.