){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
)
One Year in the USA: How an Internship Shaped Julia’s Career and Confidence
CATEGORY: Marketing Internship Abroad
COUNTRY: USA
READING TIME: 4 minutes
With the support of StudentsGoAbroad, the dream of living and working in the USA for a year became reality for our intern Julia. The business administration student spent twelve months in Houston, Texas, completing an internship in different operational departments. Her internship in the USA challenged her professionally, strengthened her independence, and boosted her self-confidence. In this experience report, Julia shares how she took on responsibility, adapted to a new culture, and grew far beyond her comfort zone.
The past twelve months have been intense, educational, and deeply formative for me. When I started my internship, I knew that many new experiences awaited me—but I did not anticipate how profoundly this time would change me both professionally and personally.
I began my internship in the Freight and Warehouse Department, where I worked for four months. From the very beginning, I was entrusted with responsibility: I managed a major client, coordinated processes and handled daily communication and problem-solving. I quickly realized how important structure, clarity, and fast decision-making are when so many processes are interconnected. At the same time, I found it fascinating to see how differently American logistics operations function compared to those in Germany. During this period, I learned an enormous amount not only professionally but also personally—I developed patience, perseverance and self-confidence.
)
)
Development opportunities during my internship abroad
After these four months, I transferred to the Network Department. There, I worked intensively on route planning, dispatch, and collaboration with independent contractors. The daily challenge of planning efficiently, remaining flexible and maintaining an overview pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow. Working with drivers, coordinating their routes, and managing the pressure to ensure punctual operations showed me how dynamic the operational side of the business truly is. Despite stressful days, I developed significantly in this role.
A particularly important moment for me was the Kaizen event that I organized and led myself. I created an Ishikawa diagram, analyzed root causes, and developed improvement proposals. This process showed me how much I enjoy analytical work and process optimization. It was very rewarding to see that my ideas could actually make a difference.
Everday life during my USA internship
Outside of work, this year was equally formative. I built my everyday life in Houston and became immersed in a new culture. Being torn between my life in Germany and my life in the United States was an emotional experience that showed me how complex and challenging it can be to have two places you call home at the same time. Toward the end of the year, I perceived the political climate in the United States as noticeably more tense. Despite these uncertainties, I learned to remain flexible, adapt to new circumstances, and continue on my own path calmly and thoughtfully.
Looking back, this year was a year of growth for me. I learned to be brave, to face new challenges, and to believe in myself. The internship and my life in the United States made me stronger, more confident, and more independent—and I am excited to see where this path will take me next.
Written by Julia – Business Administration Intern in Houston, USA with StudentsGoAbroad
Explore our SGA travel blog
)
)
)
)
)