Student turns education abroad experience into internship opportunity

June 22, 2026 - 22:32

A semester in France did more than just improve Jenna Guarrera's language skills. It became the foundation for a professional opportunity that bridged her two academic passions. Guarrera, a student pursuing studies in both French and advertising, used her time abroad to actively network and build connections that directly led to a summer internship.

Rather than treating her exchange program as a simple academic requirement, Guarrera approached it as a career move. She sought out local professionals in the advertising industry, attended networking events, and worked on projects that allowed her to apply her classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. Her ability to communicate in French opened doors that might have stayed closed, giving her access to agencies and mentors who valued bilingual talent.

The result was an internship offer that allowed her to combine her creative advertising skills with her fluency in French. The experience not only strengthened her resume but also gave her a clear vision of how her dual interests could work together in a global marketplace. For Guarrera, the lesson was simple: studying abroad is not just about seeing new places. It is about using those places to build a future career.