Poole Students Turn Summer Internships Into Real-World Experiences

This summer, a number of Poole College students took their classroom knowledge beyond the university walls, gaining hands-on experience through diverse internships across various industries. These students built professional networks, explored potential career paths and, in some cases, learned about business practices overseas.

Below we highlight a few interns who made the most of their summer opportunities and are ready to share their experiences and insights with their peers.

Student Spotlights

Angel Barron-Rueda
Business Administration
Connecting Worlds Abroad
(Seville, Spain)

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I wanted to complete an internship abroad because I wanted to grow my professional network outside of the United States. The opportunity allowed me to meet local professionals and build relationships with them that will hopefully one day benefit me if I decide to return to Spain. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have completed a total of four programs with Poole College of Management that led to me being a better student and professional by building my global knowledge and learning about different cultures and how they conduct business.

• UK: Entrepreneurship & Business Opportunity (Summer 2022)
• Germany: Accounting & Financial Management (Summer 2023)
• Spain: Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Spring Semester 2024)
• Spain: Global Internship (Summer 2024)

What did you learn about yourself from studying abroad?

Something I learned about myself while abroad is how to be independent and strategic about my academics and personal life. I was fortunate enough to live/study/work in Spain for about eight months, transitioning from living in Madrid to moving to the south of Spain to Sevilla was one of the hardest things while abroad. So coming up with a plan and managing your time is important to ensure that everything goes smoothly!

What is one of your favorite memories from studying abroad?

One of my favorite memories while abroad is taking my graduation pictures in front of the Royal Palace in Madrid and going to the Sahara desert in Morocco with friends.

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?

The global internship offered through Poole Global allowed me to obtain an internship in a field that I truly love. I was the Program Management Intern for COWA summer programs, allowing me to get real world experience in managing study abroad programs and also allowing me to be creative with their marketing materials. This internship allowed me to grow as a professional as it was the first time where I felt like my work was implemented right away and I received instant feedback from my supervisors.

What was a concern you had before departing on your program? How did you overcome it?

A big concern of mine before leaving for such a long time to Spain was how to stay connected with friends and family. The first thing I had to do/find was a community where I could be myself. I was lucky enough to have other NC State students living with me, but I also found other international friends from my local university. Though being homesick will come out of nowhere, reconnecting with friends will always help heal you a little while abroad.

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?

Be courageous! Seek out friendships with people in your international university or community. Being abroad is not only for studies/work but also to build your network with people from around the world. It can be scary to be in a new country, but learning a little about their culture and norms is important to be successful abroad.

Jon Carter
Accounting
Martin Marietta
(Raleigh, North Carolina)

Why did you choose Martin Marietta?

Having only been at NC State for a few months, my internship opportunities were limited; Big 4 and mid-tier firms want students that are further along in their academics. Although I had very little accounting experience, Martin Marietta graciously gave me an opportunity to learn more about the corporate tax world. I jumped at the opportunity because I knew it very well could have been my only one.

Favorite memory from the internship?

Our Finance Department’s Social Committee organized a department-wide outing to a Durham Bulls baseball game. Myself and two other interns completed a relay race on the field between two innings. Sadly, we were still in business casual. I’ll let you figure out how that went.

Most valuable thing you learned?

That taxes are hard. Jokes aside, it really is the people that make the job worth working; I had an amazing team that made me excited to work every day. That kind of office environment is just something money can’t buy.

Any advice for students who have internships coming up?

Speak with and really get to know your team and managers. I received so much helpful advice from my superiors who have worked in the industry I’ll be going into. Also, ask every question you have. People generally enjoy feeling helpful to others; don’t think you’re going to be a burden on your team because you’re trying to learn something that they once had to learn as well.

Kyra Dorn
Business Administration
Appalachia Service Project
(Hyden, Kentucky)

Why did you choose the Appalachia Service Project (ASP)? 

I previously volunteered with ASP for four years and fell in love with their mission and the hands-on experience I got being able to learn new skills involving construction and community building. It is an organization that is really passionate about helping people through free home repair. This summer on staff, I was able to work out of Leslie County, Kentucky along with three other staff members and pick projects/homes to work on to make their homes warmer, safer and drier. I not only got to pick projects, but I managed nearly 400 volunteers, tracked the budget, maintained grand funding and ran a center for groups to stay at every week with my fellow staff.

Favorite memory from your internship?

My favorite memory from the summer would be getting to hang out with staff from other centers. All of the Kentucky staff would meet up in a town called Hazard and we would go to the movies or get dinner and it was the perfect break from the work to really have fun and calm down with some of my best friends.

Most valuable thing you learned?

The most valuable thing I learned would be problem solving and leadership skills. Every week we had to manage around 100 new volunteers and make sure all materials and plans were set for the construction work that week. I learned to make very important decisions in split-second calls and found a new confidence in my ability to do so. Leading these volunteers every week came from learning evening gatherings, which promoted spiritual growth and being taken seriously as a nineteen-year-old who’s in charge of around $50,000 worth of construction and adults way older than myself each week.

Any advice for students who have internships coming up?

I would advise students to find something they are passionate about and go for it! Being interested in the work your doing makes it much more impactful and beneficial!

Plans after graduation?

My plans after I graduate are to do ASP’s fellowship which is a year long job or to find an internship or job at a marketing firm.

Max Hammer
Business Administration
Multiplicalia
(Seville, Spain)

Why did you choose to study abroad? 

I chose to do a global internship because I wanted a unique experience to help prepare me for my future career. I wanted to gain skills that would benefit my career while also learning about another language and culture.

What did you learn about yourself from studying abroad?

One thing I learned about myself is that I love working with people who are different from me. At my internship I had the privilege of working with people from various countries such as Spain, Portugal, Russia, Mexico and Italy. It was fascinating getting to hear their stories and the unique perspectives they brought to the company.

What is one of your favorite memories from studying abroad? 

My favorite study abroad memory was when me and my friends became close with a group of Germans living in our apartment complex. On the last night of their program we went down to the river and talked for a couple hours. We learned a lot about them and their culture through many deep conversations and we even showed them how to do a country line dance.

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?

In my internship I gained a lot of real world experience. I worked on various projects using Microsoft Excel and learned how to perform a competitive analysis of a company. It was rewarding getting to see the data I had collected being examined by upper management to make vital decisions for the company.

What was a concern you had before departing on your program? How did you overcome it? 

My biggest concern before departing was the language barrier. I was worried that I would not be able to communicate effectively in my job and that I would not perform well. However, I decided to take a leap of faith and try something new regardless of the outcome. In the end, communication was not an issue and I was able to excel in my job performance.

What advice do you have for future study abroad students? 

My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most of the opportunities given to you. It is so important to put yourself out there and be open to new experiences to better your career and yourself.

Nina Magee
Business Administration
Siemens
(Wendell, North Carolina)

Why did you choose Siemens?

I chose Siemens for a number of reasons. For one, they are a huge company, set to gross $1 billion next year and have over 40,000 employees world wide. Also, they are a global company and have been around for decades. They are extremely well known in the engineering and tech industry, so having such a big company name on my resume would be helpful in the future. They also have great tenure, the average employee spends seven years there, and I met dozens of employees who had been at Siemens well over 20 years. Being a business major, I wanted the challenge of an engineering internship. I still worked on the Business Excellence team, but learned a lot engineering wise. I chose Siemens for that challenge. Also, during the interview, they asked unique and challenging questions, which was different then other interviews I had, because the interview with Siemens felt much more personal especially because I was being interviewed by the people I would be reporting to.

Favorite memory from the internship?

My favorite memory was getting the opportunity to run some meetings. I was able to create a plan, create the powerpoint, and execute the meeting efficiently to get the information I wanted. I loved getting to connect with other employees!

Most valuable thing you learned? 

I learned how to communicate in a professional setting. This also includes how I carried myself at work, I learned that confidence will take you very far! Aside from that, I also learned a lot about how different teams communicate amongst each other to get tasks done. 

Any advice for students who have internships coming up?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions; asking questions shows you are interested and willing to learn. Work your network; if you want an invite back, it is important that you do well and have a good relationship with your manager. But if you want multiple offers to return, introduce yourself to other managers and teams you may want to work for. For example, I asked directors and department heads to grab lunch with me so I could interview them. I suggest building your brand, making your work well-known and taking initiative. Be known in the office for your attention to detail, work ethic and drive. 

Plans after graduation? 

I am currently a Junior so I am not sure yet! I did get an offer from Siemens to return for next summer, though!