6 month internship in Austin Texas 🇺🇸⋆˖°.𐚁
last year, i went on a 6-month internship as a Business Development intern at a cybersecurity startup in Austin, Texas 🇺🇸🤠 and i wanted to share a little about my experience! for some context, i got this internship through the Global Innovation Immersion (GI) programme in SMU, which is pretty similar to NOC in NUS! i was 1 out of 2 students who got placed in the US, and also the only one who landed a paid internship (in the states!!)
living alone for 6 months really pushed me out of my comfort zone - from finding my own apartment, to building a whole new social circle, and working full-time for the first time. i was really lucky to receive a stipend and some allowance from SMU, which made things a lot more manageable:)
when i first arrived, i was honestly SO scared. there were quite a few unexpected hiccups at the start - initially, i thought i'd be sharing an apartment with another SMU intern, so i was actually house hunting for two people. but plans changed pretty last minute as she bailed on the internship, so i had to pivot and figure things out on my own. those first couple of weeks were really stressful (i cried a lot ngl) 😭😭 but it also forced me to become a lot more independent, really quickly looking back, it honestly worked out for the better. having my own space gave me the freedom to settle in at my own pace, and it pushed me to step out and meet new people instead of relying on familiar faces.
in the end, living alone turned out to be one of the best parts of the experience. i made some really genuine friendships and had the best weekends with friends. i even went back to Arizona (where i was on exchange the previous semester) to visit my friends ❤️ i also got the chance to travel to Washington DC for work (and a bit of exploring on the side), and my family came to visit too - my parents in october, and my sister in december to help me pack up before heading home. feeling very very grateful for that 🥹🫶🏻
overall, this was such an amazing experience. i grew so much, learned a lot about myself, and gained a whole new level of independence. if you've read till here, take this as your sign to get that overseas internship! you won’t regret it ⭐️ #MyLemon8Diary #overseasinternship #RealTalk #WhyILemon8
Embarking on a 6-month internship in Austin, Texas was truly a life-changing adventure that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. Initially, the uncertainty of finding accommodation alone was overwhelming, especially with last-minute changes that meant I had to manage everything solo. Staying in an Airbnb for the first nine days helped me transition, and though my studio apartment was in a less glamorous area, the 10-minute walk to work made it convenient. Exploring Austin on solo dates was a great way to discover the city’s vibrant culture. I remember downloading Bumble BFF to connect with new people, which actually helped me build a social circle quickly. Weekends filled with picnics at Zilker Park, pottery painting for friends' birthdays, and boat rides on Lake Travis were some of the highlights. Experiencing a Halloween-themed rave and catching an EX football game at a local bar (because tickets were pricey!) added to the fun and immersion into Texan lifestyle. Working at Capital Factory—Austin’s largest coworking space for startups—gave me valuable insight into the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem here. My colleague’s kindness, like driving me to get groceries, made the adjustment easier. I learned the importance of preparing my own meals and meal-prepping, which was both fun and essential for balancing work and life. One of the special perks was the opportunity to travel for work to Washington DC, making the most of the trip to explore the city’s history and landmarks. Family visits from my parents and sister later on made this chapter even more memorable and helped me pack up before I headed home. Looking back, living alone fostered independence I hadn’t anticipated, teaching me resilience through initial tears and struggles. The genuine friendships I formed and the cultural experiences I embraced made the internship much more than just a work opportunity — it was a profound personal growth journey. For anyone considering an overseas internship, especially in a dynamic city like Austin, take the leap. It may be challenging at first, but the rewards are truly worth it.
