My Summer Internship Experience in Barcelona - Toby Chow

Meet Toby Chow, a Year 4 Journalism and Mass Communication student, who spent this summer at an interior design firm in Barcelona, on a credit-bearing internship.

“Throughout my exceptionally enriching internship in Barcelona, I gained profoundly valuable experience that significantly deepened my understanding of my major and clearly illuminated my future career aspirations. As a foreigner with beginner-level Spanish skills, I was warmly welcomed by my supportive colleagues and encouraging boss, who patiently guided me through new workplace dynamics and cultural nuances with remarkable ease, fostering a sense of belonging despite my initial unfamiliarity.

I engaged in projects that differed markedly from my previous PR agency work, focusing on in-house PR that demanded innovative creativity and strategic thinking to promote the company’s brand. Specifically, I planned Instagram posts and created trendy reels, a fresh approach compared to traditional campaigns. My boss enthusiastically welcomed my ideas, appreciating the creative perspective young people bring to social media. I learned extensively through Meta Business Suite, analysing audience data to optimize content and improved my Spanish by crafting captions in English and Spanish. Additionally, contributing to press releases for a new product launch proved a precious experience and enhancing my strategic communication skills. These tasks strengthened my professional confidence and introduced me to dynamic industry practices, shaping my career trajectory.

Beyond the workplace, the convenient living arrangements greatly enhanced my experience. I resided in an individual room equipped with a small kitchen, with supermarkets conveniently located nearby and my workplace just a 20-minute walk away. Sharing the same building with other Hong Kong interns, who also applied through The Bloom of Youth, fostered a tight-knit community. After group activities, we returned residents together and coordinating meetups for casual hangouts was easy. This transformative internship left me deeply grateful for the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. The intellectually stimulating work environment and supportive living setup ignited my passion for cross-cultural collaboration, preparing me for future challenges with newfound resilience and enthusiasm.”