O’Neill International Global Leadership Program in Portugal Intern Highlight: Claudia Gage
As part of the 2022 Global Leadership Program, Claudia Gage interned at Fundacao Jona Vasconcelos in Lisbon, Portugal. Here she provides some insight into her internship and reflects on how her time still influences her current job.
What were some of your responsibilities during your internship?
I researched potential partnerships for Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese visual artist known for her large-scale works, with US-based museums, universities, and cultural institutions. I also did research on the impact of COVID-19 on the visual arts market. I compared and contrasted the arts market and the nonprofit sector in Portugal and the US. I showcased these findings to foundation staff at the conclusion of my internship.
What do you do now? Are you in a job, continuing your education, etc.?
I work for the O’Neill School as the Associate Director of Student Leadership Programs.
Has your internship experience in GLP helped with your current role? Or was there anything that you learned during your time that might influence your future career path?
While my current role is very different from my GLP internship, I use a lot of the same creative thinking and research skills that I developed during GLP during at my job in O’Neill. My time in GLP also deepened my interest in and appreciation of study abroad programs and international education, which is an area of higher education that I could see myself working with in the future.
What was the most valuable part of your GLP experience?
The most valuable part of my GLP experience was the opportunity to completely immerse myself in Portuguese culture. I had traveled and studied abroad before but had never lived anywhere where English wasn’t the primary language and had never worked outside of the US. I particularly enjoyed learning about the differences in how museums and galleries are run in Portugal.
What was your favorite memory from your experience?
Some friends and I took a weekend trip to the Azores, an archipelago in the Atlantic that’s a quick flight from Lisbon. We went whale watching, visited a pineapple farm, and took a tour around Sete Cidades. I saw some of the most amazing natural beauty I’ve ever seen on that trip!
Any advice for students going or applying?
I would tell anyone who is interested in GLP to go for it! It’s such an amazing experience and a great way to experience an internship abroad. For anyone who has been accepted into GLP, I really encourage them to learn the language. Cafezhino (Portuguese coffee hour) at the Hamilton Lugar School is a really welcoming environment to find others to practice your Portuguese with.
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