Name: Jakob Schluckebier
Age: 26
Nationality: Danish
Degree: Bachelor’s in Social Education
Internship period: 01.12.2017 – 31.05.2018

I visited New Zealand several years ago and completely fell in love with the country and everything it has to offer. Therefore, I made the decision, that if the opportunity to go back suddenly presented itself, I would not think twice about going. And luckily that was exactly what happened, when I decided to complete an internship abroad.

Completing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Education, I looked at internships in New Zealand and stumbled upon Spectrum Care Trust. After looking at their website and becoming increasingly curious regarding the work they do, I contacted my school and was put in contact with Mia Barr. A meeting was set up when she came to Denmark, where we spoke about the vision of Spectrum Care, the services they provide, and my personal and educational opportunities. I decided that I would love to experience it all and next thing I know, I am on a plane headed for New Zealand.

I lived in a house alongside five other interns also completing Spectrum Care internships. Despite being six people in a house, it never felt crowded and we all got along splendidly. All of them became dear friends of mine and we all still keep in touch. I even bought a car with one of them

During my internship, I worked with a lot of different people and gained a lot of experiences to draw on in my future work. I learned a lot of things I didn’t expect to learn, but still proved such vital points in working with other humans.

The supervision sessions with Mia and Cecilie were great as we were able to share our professional reflections, concerns, and ideas regarding the work we were doing. Through these sessions, we were often filled with new ideas and a sense of community, which we could apply to our work.

Although all of us interns were occupied with work, we also found time to explore New Zealand and be completely awestruck by the sheer beauty of it. I cannot draw comparison to another country, as every other place I have been to have been dwarfed by the wonders of New Zealand.

We went up north to explore Whangarei, Paihia, Cape Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach, and many other places. Besides going up north, we also went down to the South Island and completed a roadtrip while we were there. It is a near surreal experience to witness New Zealand and its wonders. To bungee-jump from the Kawarau Bridge, gaze at Milford Sound, sandboard down sand dunes, and hike through Tongariro National Park. Looking back, it seems like a dream come true, except I actually did all of these things.

To sum my New Zealand experience up, I have never regretted my decision to complete an internship at Spectrum Care Trust. You will develop skills in your profession while also experiencing personal changes. The people you work with, your coworkers, your fellow interns, and the other people you meet along the way, will change you and you will never forget your time here. I certainly haven’t.