During my time abroad, I interned with the United Arts Club, a social club for artists in Dublin founded in 1907. My internship here was a crash course in embracing a different pace of life.

Stepping into the over 200-year-old Georgian townhome near the heart of the city, I was greeted each morning by old books and older art all around me, a testament to the club’s dual identity as historic landmark and living hub for artists. The experience profoundly enhanced my career goals in the museum sector. Initially tasked with administrative work, I was underchallenged. By proactively seeking more responsibility, I helped to catalogue and hang the Member’s Summer Show, hanging 70 unique works by 70 unique artists in a cramped but charming bar. This hands-on project was a world away from the formal exhibitions I assisted with at the MSU Broad Art Museum and was such an eye-opening experience. Additionally, I authored a guide to the club's permanent collection which stretches from the very top of the roughly 8 story building all the way to the bottom on nearly every wall, highlighting works from those by the club’s founders and vital figures in Irish history like J.B. Yeats and Constance Markievicz, to groundbreaking new artists like Ishmael Claxton. This project sharpened my ability to make art history accessible and engaging for a public audience.

On a personal level, the biggest surprise was the casual Irish culture. My supervisor, Philip, would often encourage me to leave early, or not come in at all, on sunny days for “field research” at Dublin’s museums. As a highly task-oriented person, I initially struggled with this. Eventually, I learned to take myself a little less seriously. I spent days exploring Dublin’s vibrant arts scene in places like the Chester Beatty Library and the National Gallery, and I even celebrated Bloomsday by seeing a one-man performance of Grace by James Joyce. This taught me the immense value of cultural immersion as a vital part of professional development, not a distraction from it.

My internship is a story for any student who fears theirs might not be a perfect fit at first. It demonstrates that with initiative and flexibility, you can shape your own experience. For parents and donors, it shows how an international placement builds resilient, adaptable, and self-aware individuals, along with their resumes. My time in Dublin reaffirmed my passion for the cultural sector and gave me the confidence to pursue it on my own terms.

• Name: Natalie Swartz
• Status: Senior
• Major: Human Geography
• Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Program: Internships in Dublin