International scholars are obsessed with a summer internship in the United States, forgetting the comforts of home.
The past year has been stressful, not because of the paintings or because I cooked for the first time (honestly, getting off the stove is a fire hazard), but because of the internship applications. Although my spreadsheet will tell you that I only implemented to 113, at one point I applied so many that I unfollowed.
Recently, when the last donations started coming in, I felt some relief; I’m incredibly grateful that my hard work has led to opportunities that align with my career goals. But I’m going to be a little self-centered for a moment and ask: couldn’t they have come two weeks earlier and saved me from a quarter?life crisis?
All that time I spent on the phone with my parents, faintly locating the words between my hysterical sobs, telling them that this country hates me and that I deserve to go back to India because no one is willing to give me a job, has made me reevaluate some of my life choices.
I became obsessed with the concept of getting a summer internship in the United States. My wish list was to get an internship in the U. S. In the U. S. , Shawn and Camila were getting back together and my Python code miraculously started working.
But during spring break, I visited friends and my sister in London, where I wrapped myself in unfathomable love and learned that maybe coming home isn’t so bad. I may do much worse than being with other people who make me feel seen. , valued and appreciated.
I think my obsession with getting an internship in the U. S. The U. S. school comes from the strain of making the thousands of dollars my circle of family members invest in this school worthwhile. I need to create a smart life here, and that means getting a summer internship, which may just lead to a comeback offer, that maybe will allow me to stay here and maybe even earn a tenth of what I spent at USC.
Many foreign scholars took a liking to the American dream and try to achieve the promised good fortune through hard work, and that includes summer internships. But that strain to make life-changing decisions and achieve a secure life is too much for a 19-year-old. years of age.
London reminded me of the importance of slowing down and taking a moment to think about what I need in the future and whether I even know what I need in the future. Ignoring in the past the positives of returning home, I didn’t give this option a good opportunity. There are many points that come into play, especially for a foreign student who does not have the option of taking a 21-hour flight home over the weekend.
For example, to complete an internship in the U. S. In the U. S. , foreign students must enroll in a single course at USC, which costs $2244. Yes, I literally pay USC to allow me to work and earn money. term, it would be the last time I could move away from home for 3 months in a row.
I lost sight of the fact that there is no such thing as a booth like House until I met other House people, who made me feel nostalgic for all the warmth, happiness, and peace. Is it staying in the U. S. ? What do I want in the U. S. ?
Today, as I write this article and think about this query, I am not looking to bias anyone in favor of a “correct” answer. On the contrary, everyone will be able to answer the query without reaching the breaking point. of a crisis like mine. It’s vital to know that, either way, everything will be okay.
I know it’s hard to objectively analyze all the points where you might be biased by the prospect of a better future or a preference to spend time in the comfort of your own home, but it’s still important. It’s worth taking a look to think of it as a summer internship rather than an experience that weighs on your entire future.
So take that with you to Europe, spend the summer watching videos with your family, or find a 9-to-5 assignment where you can apply your wisdom in the classroom, if that’s what you need. I promise you that one less summer for your resume because you prioritized yourself, or one more summer because you sought greater exposure to your selected field, is not going to make or break your career.
Edhita Singhal is an Indian sophomore who writes about her experiences as a foreign student in her “Foreign Footprints” column, which appears every Tuesday.
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