Isabel Gottlieb-Nemo '25 Applies her Spanish Minor in a Clinical Context Abroad
Name: Isabel Gottlieb-Nemo
Class Year: 2025
Major: Psychology
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Chevy Chase, Md.
Internship Organization: Asociación de Diabéticos de Chile
Internship Title: Mental Health/Educator Intern
Location of Internship: Santiago, Chile
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
A regular day at my internship could begin with me shadowing one of the specialists who works at the organization. Asociación de Diabéticos de Chile (ADICH) is a multi-faceted non-profit committed to providing accessible resources for diabetics, so there are many types of doctors and clinicians. During my time so far, I have observed a nutritionist, a general practitioner, and a nurse performing curations. After shadowing for the first half of the day, I either create educational content with the other intern in the office or administer mental health screenings to patients. Educational content can look like creating a video on the psychological impacts of stress on the progression of diabetes or a pamphlet about how doctors should treat emotionally reactive patients.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because I really wanted an opportunity to improve my Spanish and apply what I have been studying at Bryn Mawr in a professional setting. Overall, I feel that the work done at ADICH is beneficial to the community and provides me with a deeper understanding of what the mental health field truly looks like.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
I found this internship through the Career and Civic Engagement Center's (CCEC) partnership with IES Abroad. I applied to be funded through the CCEC to participate in this program in Santiago and was later paired with ADICH, as it matched my interests and academic trajectory.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
I love working in Spanish and seeing how my and my colleagues' work tangibly improves people's lives. While helping professions can be emotionally taxing, the gratification they provide is so meaningful. Having this internship has solidified my decision to go into a helping profession for this reason.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I did not expect how much having great coworkers would impact my work experience. I came into this internship a bit nervous because the job was not in my native language. However, I have opened up and gotten to know my coworkers better, which has really improved my comfort and confidence in my place of work. I have realized that connecting with coworkers on a personal level is important for me to feel that I belong and am part of the team at my job.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
The most important skill I am learning at work is spoken Spanish, especially in a clinical context. By hearing various voices and accents daily, I have become better accustomed to understanding Spanish and expanded my Spanish vocabulary for practicing psychology. This is super important to me because I aim to be able to practice therapy in both Spanish and English for my future career.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
The biggest challenge I have faced has been communication. Communication is the cornerstone of psychology, not only understanding what somebody is saying but also empathetically listening. One thing I have struggled with is feeling that I am not equipped with the language skills to adequately listen and respond to the patients with whom I work. That being said, I feel comfortable asking my supervisor or coworkers to help out when I need it, as I do not want to be negligent.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
The most rewarding thing about my internship has been seeing the difference in patients from when they walk in the door to when they leave. The vast majority of patients at ADICH are elderly and confused about their condition, but the organization is very education-focused, and the doctors and nurses are quite patient. Often, people will come in confused and uninformed about their condition, but when they leave, there is a notable difference in the confidence they have in their ability to cope with their illness. Doing the small bit that I can to help people improve their lives by educating and providing mental health resources has been extremely rewarding.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
After I got placed with ADICH by IES Abroad, this was the work I expected to do. One nice thing about ADICH is that my supervisor is eager for me to learn, willing to let me shadow whoever I want to, and always encourages me to develop independent projects or ideas for the organization.
Through the Career and Civic Engagement Center Beyond Bryn Mawr Summer Internship Program, Bryn Mawr students pursue opportunities in fields such as nonprofits, government and law, health care, research, sciences, business, and the arts. Thanks to the generosity of our alumnae/i and donors, over 150 students across all academic departments are funded to pursue unpaid internships or research experiences in the U.S. and abroad each year.