Name: Aliya Stubenbord
Class Year: 2024
Major: International Studies
Minors: German and Visual Studies
Hometown: Queens, NY
Internship Organization: Berlin Thunder
Job Title: Intern
Location: Berlin, Germany
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
For my internship, I have been working with the Berlin Thunder which is a European American football team. Here, I move around different departments such as the communications and marketing branch, operations and equipment group, nutrition team, and management. I support these teams as well as the football team. On the days that I work, I often work with the communications and marketing team on press releases, as well as community outreach for upcoming events. I also assist with practice operations in the stadium. On game days, I work with the nutrition team and the marketing/communications team. I organize the food catering, communicate with the broadcasting system, and make sure that players sign jerseys.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I got this internship through the Career and Civic Engagement's global internship partnership. I hadn't studied abroad before, and I thought that this would be a great chance. Through IES Abroad, I was placed here and thought that it would be a great fit. I enjoy playing and being involved in sports. This internship was also a way for me to see the different kinds of careers in sports. I also felt that this would translate back to the U.S. and its sports leagues.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship is game day. I not only get to watch the games, but I also get to work on the backside of them. Being a part of the game day operation is super special because there is an intense feeling around the stadium.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I learned how important connections are. When walking around the neighborhood handing our flyers to people and restaurants, we often went to places that we were familiar with or have already put posters up in. This builds connection between the community and increases attendance at games.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
I have been learning a lot about operations and setup. This is important because it is the backbone to the organization. Everyone is integral to the team so learning more skills is crucial to understanding sports management. I also have been enhancing my German speaking skills. These two things are important to me because the sports industry is something that I could see myself going into as a career and I am also a German minor so it is important to practice.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
One challenge that I've faced would be working on the weekends and sometimes understanding German. Since games are on Sunday, this means no weekend trips. Also, sometimes I can't understand German fully which makes communication a bit harder.
Can you give us three adjectives that describe your internship experience?
Intense, exciting, meaningful
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Game day is most rewarding because you can see how everything comes together after a long week of work.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
I didn't know what to expect, but I am having a ton of fun and am excited to learn more!
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.