Michaela Mills, the Tigers Abroad marketing intern, writes:

G’day, y’all! My name is Michaela Mills, and I am a senior marketing student. This past summer, I was able to join Clemson University and East Carolina University in the AUIP North Queensland study abroad program. I knew I was going to receive a great learning opportunity during the program, but I did not realize until the program’s end that I would have the opportunity to continue that learning experience afterward as well.

During our final group dinner in Australia, I overheard Dr. Hammitt, our faculty leader, speaking to some of my fellow students about the Tigers Abroad Marketing Internship. My ears perked up right away and I immediately moved closer to him because I knew that this would be an amazing chance if I were chosen. My dream school was always Clemson, and I love when I am able to have a hands-on learning practice that also benefits my college. To me, and I am sure to many others, this internship sounded perfect because not only do I get to practice and gain new marketing skills, but I also get to talk to students about two things I love, being Clemson and Australia.

I’ve been trying to pick my favorite program aspect and have faced immense difficulty in doing so. I could discuss camping in the Outback and holding a pet wallaby or planting trees for Big Jack and the other Aboriginal community members. I could talk about watching sunrise in Port Douglas, paddle boarding for the first time or fulfilling a dream of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. I could go on and on about our knowledgeable lecturers and how I learned more than I actually thought I would. I could talk about my love for hiking (which I’m sure over seventy five percent of Clemson students have as well) and all the gorgeous areas we hiked through on the program.

In thinking of these moments and showing my parents my program pictures and explaining everything I did, I realized that I met incredible new people that I will never forget, accomplished things that people wish they could do and made so many memories. Truly, no one program aspect can be labeled as my favorite.

Looking back on everything, I am beyond grateful that I was able to partake in this program and learn and do all the things that I did. Now on top of that, I have the chance to relive my AUIP Australia experience by talking to interested students about my joys and letting them know that they can make their own!