When the Covid-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of all international travel, Laura Rodriguez ’23, a Criminology major from the Dominican Republic, thought her dream of having an experiential learning opportunity in South America was over. Luckily, she learned about international virtual internships—through John Jay’s International Studies & Study Abroad Programs—that would provide students like her with an engaging international learning experience without the travel. “This was my first internship and while I was hoping to go abroad and be in person, being able to intern for such an amazing non-profit like Observatorio Contra el Acoso Chile [OCAC], and interning while being safe at home during a pandemic, was perfect for me,” says Rodriguez, who learned about the disturbing trend of sexual harassment and social and economic inequities through the experience. “At OCAC, everyone I worked with was so welcoming and I learned so much throughout my time with the organization. They helped me make connections so I could expand my network and they involved me in projects that would help promote positive social change in Chile. It really was an amazing experience.”

A native Spanish speaker, Rodriguez felt comfortable at OCAC, collaborating with coworkers at the organization. In many ways, she says the experience reminded her of her time at John Jay College. “One of the things that has always stood out to me about John Jay is how diverse it is and how it places an important emphasis on taking care of community. That’s something that OCAC does too. OCAC values the community and seeks to help it improve by providing information to the public. They’re working hard to create change in society,” says Rodriguez. “I strive to be a changemaker in society and to promote kindness. That’s why I came to John Jay, because it’s a place that encourages teamwork, unity, diversity, and lifting others up. OCAC shares that vision. It’s a spirit that embodies everything I want to be.” We connected with Rodriguez to learn more about her virtual international internship experience.

Can you tell us about your internship with Observatorio Contra el Acoso Chile? What were some of your responsibilities?
As a student from the United States and an intern at OCAC, my role was to help collect data and information on the law, norms, and rights concerning sexual harassment, more specifically sexual harassment toward women in Chile and internationally. In Chile, there has been an increase in protests to better the treatment of marginalized communities, but with that there’s also been an increase is street harassment toward women that is sexual in nature. A recent survey found that 93 percent of women felt harassed while riding public transportation. With the data and information that I helped collect, OCAC’s leaders could compare and contrast the similarities and differences between Chile and the United States, and then use that information to find ways to reduce and hopefully end this type of harassment.

Were you working with any specific team at Observatorio Contra el Acoso Chile?
I was working with the Legal Department. It was a real learning experience for me because the legal field is not my area of expertise, and I was working primarily with lawyers. But, the team at OCAC really supported me throughout the entire internship experience. Working with them made me better understand the legal system and how laws and decisions affect society. Through this virtual internship my skills and knowledge of the law expanded. I saw growth in myself, my critical thinking skills, and my abilities to express myself more confidently.

Given that this was an international virtual internship, in what ways do you think the internship differed from an in-person internship experience?
With the in-person aspect removed, we lost the intimate nature and instant collaborative spirit of being in the same physical space. When I first started, that made me feel like a bit of an outsider, but that feeling quickly went away. Other than not being in the same room together, I feel like there was nothing missing from my experience. At OCAC, they really tried to make the virtual experience as engaging as an in-person internship would be. I had daily responsibilities and goals, and I had deadlines that I needed to meet, so I felt all the rush of that excitement. As for the international aspect, I feel like I understood the Chilean people I worked with because I’m fluent in Spanish and connected well with them, and that made me feel more comfortable during our interactions.

What did you find to be most rewarding, challenging, or surprising about the internship?
The nature of the internship being virtual was challenging, surprising, and rewarding all at once. It challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, adapt to a new environment and a new virtual working model, but it also taught me a lot about myself, my work ethic, and my time management skills. It was a demanding role but also one that made me grow and gave me a boost in confidence. I couldn’t be happier with the experience.