This summer, I interned in the Commercial Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal. I am entering my fourth and final year at McGill majoring in Honors International Development and minoring in Social Entrepreneurship. Before starting my internship, I would have said that my interests lay in environmental and economic development. Most of my courses throughout my degree focused on examining solutions to problems in this space—and I loved what I was doing. It wasn’t until I began my internship at the U.S. Consulate that I realized my passions extended into commercial service and diplomacy.
I applied to this internship specifically because I wanted to expand my interests. Going into my fourth year, I knew I would apply to graduate school in the fall, and I was considering multiple different programs of study. I was attracted to the U.S. Consulate internship because it allowed me to apply my education to practical experience across many different sectors. I hoped to learn more about what a future in diplomacy and commercial consulting might look like.
The Commercial Service at the U.S. Consulate advocates on behalf of U.S. firms for easier entry into the Canadian market. Since I worked out of the Consulate in Montreal, my tasks were specific to U.S. companies looking to enter the Quebec market. As an intern, I met with U.S. companies to learn more about their goals and then conducted market reports specific to their industries and products. I also spent much of my internship drafting briefing memos and talking points for diplomats visiting Montreal. A highlight of my internship was drafting Ambassador Cohen’s remarks for the Aerospace Innovation Forum where the United States was named the Country of Honor.
Overall, the internship was incredibly valuable to my university experience. Not only did my internship help me narrow down my interests but I also built skills that I am confident I will use in my final year at McGill and in my future studies. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity. I am thankful to the Arts Internship Office for their support, and the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal for an amazing internship.
Since my internship was unpaid, I received funding from the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Award which supported my rent and necessities over the summer. I was also able to put money aside for graduate school. I am so thankful to the donor for making this award possible. I could not recommend this internship more!
