American Intern’s Experience Studying Abroad in London
I am Chloe Franklin, an African American college student from Rock Hill, South Carolina. Upon graduation from university, I aspire to attend law school and become a medical-malpractice lawyer and a legal correspondent for national news. Growing up, I was heavily involved in sports and committed to excelling in school. I was a competitive gymnast, a part of the student service council at my high school, and began my first job at 15 years old. These experiences taught me discipline, determination, organization, and much more. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, my education was writing-focused. By high school graduation, I had fallen in love with writing. Therefore, I decided to attend Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, where I am a junior majoring in Journalism. On campus, I hold three jobs and work for our news organization. But, I knew I wanted to study abroad during college. So, this semester, I am studying in London.
A lot of things drew me to the city of London. There is no language barrier, and many aspects of London remind me of the United States. In addition, it is a diverse city and is somewhere I have always wanted to visit. Studying abroad was a step out of my comfort zone. However, I am over halfway through my experience and have adapted well. Initially, I struggled with directions, and riding the tube confused me. But now, I am confident taking public transportation and guiding people through London. Although I have grown familiar with London, there is still much more to see and learn. I have also been taking advantage of traveling to new places. So far, I have had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Paris, and Edinburgh. I never expected to be able to travel like this.
Even though traveling is a great opportunity, the deciding factor for studying abroad in London was participating in an international internship. About halfway through my program, I learned I would be an intern at You Press. Once I learned more about the organization and my role, I was excited to get started. You Press’ dedication to helping underrepresented groups and young people find their voice drew me to the organization. You Press holds functions, supports people to be creative, gives community members a platform to share their talents, and more. I currently mentor two individuals back home. I am happy to learn more about helping young people and having the opportunity to implement skills I have already been cultivating. In addition, I hope to assist underrepresented groups in the future through law and journalism. You Press believes this is important work and that people should have a voice and others should listen. I agree. Any opportunity to help others is fulfilling and good training for my future.
By: Chloe Franklin
