Emma Baumgartner
International Intern
My name is Emma Baumgartner and I’m a third year political science and economics student at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Growing up, I’ve always had a bit of a travel bug. My family enjoyed traveling every summer, exploring new destinations and cultures. By the time I entered university, studying abroad was already in the books for me, it was only a matter of where and when.
The summer after my first year, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Denmark for a month. To say the least, the experience was phenomenal and only further stoked my interest in traveling and studying abroad. I spent the rest of my second year in university debating whether I had the ability to study abroad again, and during the dreary winter of a Midwest state, I found FIE. While FIE is far from a perfect program, it provided me with the unique opportunity to not just study abroad in London, but also the opportunity to gain work experience in a different country.
I have been an intern at Sculpt for the past six weeks as part of my summer study abroad program. While I was nervous before coming to London due to not knowing what my internship would entail, those nerves have been completely dissolved. Interning at Sculpt has provided me the chance to explore the inner workings of a charity in the UK and understand the British landscape it exists in. I have experience working with children ages five to eleven, but the targeted age group for many of the programs run by Sculpt were age groups I had little experience with. Beyond aiding in the process of the development of programs, the actual delivery and interaction with young people has been extremely rewarding and helpful for my skill development.
While interning at Sculpt has only further enriched my skills and experiences, it is the interaction with those at Sculpt that I will cherish the most. The discussions I’ve had with the members of Sculpt have given me insight into British politics and contemporary issues. They’ve allowed me to put my time in London into the wider context of British life and culture. My time here in London and specifically with Sculpt has been invaluable, building my skills, my strengths and experiences. It has been an unforgettable experience that will continue to support my career and academic pursuits.
