The big city with a small-town feel

Niall McDonald arrived in Philadelphia with clear goals: to gain relevant experience in his field and expand his network, echoing the positive experiences he had during a previous summer program. Having struggled to secure a degree-related opportunity back home in Ireland, Niall saw the J-1 program as an ideal opportunity to gain practical experience and fulfill his professional aspirations abroad. 

Reflecting on his internship experience, Niall explains that he has been enjoying it and he has learned a lot. He has developed a great daily routine that strikes a balance between productivity and personal enjoyment of the city. “My day-to-day life consists of waking up early before work and enjoying some early morning downtime. I live quite close to my job, so I enjoy having a slow morning rather than running around and jumping into work mode straight from kick-off,” he shares. Philadelphia has been a great city for Niall’s time as a J-1, as it is a big city but according to him “just feels like a big neighborhood”. As his time in the city draws to a close, Niall admits, “I’m going to find it hard leaving it behind but it’s definitely in my future plans to come back. It’s been very good to me”. 

Living on the East Coast has also provided Niall with ample opportunities to travel outside of Pennsylvania, having visited New York, New Jersey, Boston, and DC in the past year with plans to visit Nashville, New Orleans, and Albuquerque before returning to Ireland this summer. 

Looking ahead, Niall is determined to leverage his internship experience to secure a role aligned with his newfound passion. “I will try to apply this experience to get into a job as close as the one I have here as possible as it’s something I’ve become very fond of and would like to continue doing so”, he shares earnestly. On a personal level, Niall acknowledges growth in his interpersonal skills and openness to new experiences. “Personally, I think I will be more open and talkative to people. I will definitely start saying ‘yes’ more to plans, as doing so over here has only brought me good times and great memories” he reflects on his time in Philadelphia. ]

Reflecting on his support system during this adventure, Niall comments:  “The support from Rian was second to none, honestly. I had a couple of panic and scare moments myself but anything I ever needed was dealt with very quickly and effectively,” he acknowledges gratefully. Knowing he had a reliable source of guidance and assistance helped him navigate challenges with confidence. 

For those considering a similar path, Niall offers pragmatic advice based on his own journey. “The only advice I have is to hang in there,” he says. He acknowledges the challenges of job hunting in a new country but stresses the importance of perseverance and networking. “Just be patient, and things will usually work themselves out,” he reassures, drawing from his own experience of initial difficulties giving way to rewarding opportunities. As he nears the end of his time in the States, James counts the richness of his experiences outside of the work as the highlight of his time. “You have so many opportunities to go to any amount of cities, meet so many different people, do anything you want, you’d be mad not to embrace it,’’ he says. “Anything you could want is at your doorstep, so use it”.