Kiersten’s South Africa Experience

“I really enjoyed my internship site. I really enjoyed being able to make connections with various doctors and nurses that worked on site. They always made sure I understood the situation the patient and they let me in on their thought process going towards the diagnosis. I really enjoyed being able to look at X-Rays with the doctors and being able to talk about what I saw before they told me their diagnosis. I spent a lot of time in the maternity ward at the clinic and I really enjoyed being able to help admit the patients and then seeing the patient through for their time at the clinic.
What was your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement was being able to say that I have completely pushed myself outside my comfort zone. At home, I do different leadership activities and I say that I’m getting outside my comfort zone, but now I really understand the meaning of that term. I was extremely nervous before I left for my internship, but by the end of my time away, I wished that I could’ve stayed longer. I met so many great people and pushed myself to really get to know each of them. I worked to make connections at the clinic, and I surprised myself about the things that I could handle while I was there. I pushed myself to work through the adversity and the difficult situations at the clinic because it’s important to learn from those situations and I wouldn’t have gotten the full experience from walking away. I think that my internship and experience were so great because I made sure to take every opportunity that presented itself to me, and I’m very proud of myself for that.
What advice would you give future participants?
I would tell future participants to have a completely open mind when going into the internship. If you are closed off, then it will definitely reflect in your time abroad. I was recommend trying everything that you possibly can because the time flies by while you’re away. Make relationships with all the people around you can because you could end up meeting some of the best people. Take a journal and truly reflect on all the experiences throughout the internship because it isn’t always easy, but there is always something to take away from the situation. Finally, it’s alright to be a little overwhelmed, especially when you first arrive, but make sure to keep being open and allow yourself to move past those feelings. There are people around that will be there to support you through the internship, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them about your feelings throughout the journey.
Please tell others why you think they should sign up for a program with Kaya
I think that study abroad is so important for students because it provides an opportunity to get a learning experience while in another country. Kaya helps provide students with an opportunity to get hands-on experience through volunteer and internship programs across the world. The experiences gained through these internships are unlike anything that could be taught in a classroom. Kaya advisors provided so much additional help to me through the process, and they were patient while I worked to figure out exactly which program would be best for me. The application process was easy and matched me with a great clinic that gave me an amazing study abroad internship experience.”