Karla had her heart set on the Rian J1 Graduate Visa program soon after graduating from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. She heard about the program from a friend and knew it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” she couldn’t pass up. Karla had previously spent time in the US on a J1 summer visa in San Diego, so she already knew how valuable a visa in the US could be. She expressed: “I wanted to get experience I couldn’t get at home.” Karla couldn’t be happier with her decision to take the leap. 

She heard before starting the application process how helpful Rian was, “The process was really easy, I felt supported by Rian in every sense.” She found everything was very straightforward and the steps were easy to understand, “Rian was very responsive.”

Karla set her sights on Boston for her grad visa experience because of the city’s approachability, “I heard Boston is a lot like home,” she said. Indeed, she adjusted to the city with ease. She had an apartment sorted before moving to Boston and lives in the heart of Cambridge “with my best friend from college (who I also convinced to do the grad visa) and an American girl from Colorado, who I found out studied abroad in Limerick!”

Karla quickly settled into the city by connecting with Boston’s vibrant Irish community. “I met a lot of people during networking events and playing for the Boston Shamrocks,” she said. She even discovered that she was living around the corner from someone she knew from home. “It was a bit overwhelming and scary coming over by myself but everyone in Boston was so welcoming and friendly”. 

Karla discovered that the best way to land a job is through networking. “The search took a while, but I stayed consistent, even when it got tough and I felt like giving up,” she said. She went to networking events in Boston, reached out to professionals to get coffee and helped volunteer at Mná Mheiriceá, a women-focused Irish Group in Boston. She says, “I met so many amazing people and I am still in contact with many of the people I networked with”. Ultimately, she found the perfect position through a connection on her football team. She was able to take over the job from another J1 grad visa holder. 

Karla works at the Quincy Chamber of Commerce as a membership and events associate where she helps with events and marketing. “There is no day that is the same. I help organize markets, golf tournaments, food festivals, networking events.” She also said, “I love the marketing side of things because I love to meet new people and talk to people with new perspectives.”

 Not only does she love the job itself but she also has had a great experience getting to know her coworkers. “I love my coworkers, my team is me and three other women, we get on like a house on fire, it's a great working environment.” 

Overall, Karla has learned a lot from her job and found a new career interest, “I didn’t know I had such an interest in event planning before this job.” 

Outside of work, Karla has taken advantage of all Boston has to offer. She is an avid runner, which has taken her all over the city. She has also spent her time traveling around the US. She visited friends in New York while completing the Brooklyn Half Marathon, she stayed in Chicago for Lollapalooza, a popular music festival, and she returned to San Diego to compete in a football tournament. She even visited Puerto Rico to visit family, which she said, “was a great escape from Boston’s winter.”

As Karla’s J1 experience comes to an end, one of the highlights has been the friendships she has made. Meeting both American and Irish people was one of her goals. “I wanted to broaden my horizons,” she said. 

She has done just that, making lasting friendships and memories. The experience has also helped her grow professionally, she said, noting:

“I have gained skills and confidence I never expected. After working in the US, I am interested in event planning, a career path I didn’t know I loved”. She hopes to bring these experiences back to Ireland and continue traveling and challenging herself.

Karla’s advice to future Rian J1 Program Participants is simple: “Definitely do it.”  While finding your footing can be difficult at first, she believes the experience is well worth it. Karla hopes to make the most of her remaining time by travelling more, exploring New England, and even attending a Patriots game. Rian is delighted that Karla has had such an amazing experience, and we wish her the best of luck back in Ireland!