Features
Hamilton goes global: international students intern on four continents
September 10, 2015
Dima Kaigorodov ’16, Moldova
This summer I worked for McCann Erickson in NYC—the shadowy Mad Men agency from season seven. Besides the usual kitchen talks with Don, flamboyant summer parties and endless happy hours, I got to learn the nuts and bolts of the advertising industry. Mainly, I worked as an assistant editor and videographer on a number of new business pitches for various clients: Mastercard, Microsoft, Sears. In addition to that, I served as a production assistant on sets of various web-based content shoots: Coke Life, Jose Cuervo and Office Depot. The experience was priceless—living in the Big Apple was not.
Nejla Asimovic ’16, Bosnia and Herzegovina
At the end of the spring semester, I went to New York City, where I started my six-week-long internship at a non-profit organization called Leaders’ Quest. In addition to providing consulting services, Leaders’ Quest organizes so-called Quests for companies, which could be described as conferences aimed at catalyzing transformation in individuals and companies, and helping them overcome particular challenges that they are facing. I helped LQ organize a Quest for a leadership team at McGraw-Hill Education, and I had an opportunity to spend time with the staff of this publishing company discussing the meaning of innovation in the field of education.
In August I went home to Sarajevo, where I started my Kirkland summer research. I applied to be a Kirkland Summer Associate in early March and was excited when the committee chose my project and gave me the opportunity to work full-time on research of my own design, in collaboration with Professor Gbemende Johnson. The name of my research project was “Sexual Violence against Women and Girls as a Weapon of War”—a topic that, in my opinion, does not receive enough attention, even though different types of violence have had devastating effects on thousands of women worldwide. Doing this research in my hometown also enabled me to spend time with my family and friends which was, as always, priceless.
Tsion Tsefae ’16, Ethiopia
June to August in Ethiopia is always enjoyable when the winter is cool enough yet not freezing cold. In addition to that, working on Youth for Ethiopia (YFE) was just icing on the cake. With the generous financial support of the Levitt Center and the academic support of Ms. Hysell, I was able to start YFE last year. For four weeks during summer 2014, three of my former teachers and I worked with 15 Ethiopian high school students on leadership, social innovation and SAT prep. The project was such a success that it called for immediate expansion! Again, with the generous funding of the Levitt Center and crowd-fundraising, we were able to continue YFE for the second time this summer. We now have 53 graduates in total—how humbling.
Mete Polat ’17, Russia
During this past summer, I worked in Moscow, Russia. I had a chance to intern in one of the largest metallurgic companies in Russia and Europe called Metalloinvest. I chose to do HR to see how my knowledge of psychology could be applied in the real world. I was involved in restructuring non-financial motivation systems in the main manufacturing facilities. This experience gave me a new perspective on the intricacies of employee motivation. I spent time researching the successful practices used in other companies and rethinking the old USSR practices that are still utilized in the manufacturing sector in Russia. Apart from my internship, I explored Moscow and other cities with my camera and read exciting books that I couldn’t find time for during the academic year!
Asad Javed ’16, Pakistan
Summer has never been this capriciously variable. Studying Molière for an Emerson project along with costume designing for the production between the scorching Pakistani heat and the everlasting London rain, summer seemed moodier than ever before, though not without its charms. Taking the bard’s masterpiece, Tartuffe, from 17th century Paris and transmitting it across space and time to 1930s India, contemporary Virginia and the Garden of Eden made the summer ever so exciting, come rain, come shine. Now that I’m back on the Hill, and getting ready to direct a feature film, it feels like summer hasn’t just been unpredictable but surprisingly long.
Leonard Kilekwang ’16, Kenya
Over the summer I researched the effects of khat (a plant that is widely used in east Africa and the Arabian peninsula, but also widely debated because of its psychostimulant effects) on mice at the department of Medical Physiology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. My research was financed by the Summer Internship Support Fund managed by Hamilton’s Career Center.
Khat (Catha edulis) is a kind of plant that grows natively in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is widely used in those areas for its stimulant properties, similar to those of amphetamines. The effects of khat are reported to include euphoria, excitement and loss of appetite. Khat is one of Kenya’s top exports and is sent to Ethopia, Yemen and the UK, among other countries. Recently, however, some countries, such as the UK and Germany, have classified khat as a controlled substance. These governments believe that khat can lead to psychological dependence and other negative side-effects, including depression and psychosis. Through doing this study I learned how to design and carry out an entire study, from choosing the length of the study to testing the drug on mice. I particularly enjoyed learning animal handling and different ways of administering drugs.
The goal of the research was to provide important results for people and government organizations trying to determine. I finished the research with increased confidence in my investigative skills and a goal to continue scientific research after graduation.
Hristina Mangelova ’16, Bulgaria
After an exciting junior year in Paris, I spent most of my summer interning in a popular science magazine called Eight Magazine in Sofia, Bulgaria. The magazine is unlike any publication I have read in the US and the closest American analogues are National Geographic and YES! Magazine.
During my time at Eight Magazine I got to work on multiple projects coordinated by the magazine. For example, one of my daily tasks included translations between French, Bulgarian and English for an upcoming documentary movie on alternative healing methods. A typical workday at Eight Magazine was different every day and it usually brought me tears…of laughter. One day I was interviewing people on dyslexia within the educational system in Bulgaria, the next one I was photographing a widow of a famous Bulgarian composer.
Overall, I spent a blissful and much-needed summer close to family and friends. I learned about myself and about journalism in Bulgaria (and Europe), and I am sure this experience will make the gruesome post-graduation decision process slightly easier.