I am writing to highly recommend the MAST program, which I had the privilege of participating in 2014-2015. This experience was pivotal in my personal development and career trajectory.
Living away from home and immersing myself in a different culture and language significantly enhanced my adaptability. It forced me to step outside my comfort zone and find creative solutions to overcome communication barriers, dramatically improving my communication skills.
My time with the host family was invaluable for improving my English proficiency. In fact, I spoke more English during my first trip from Minneapolis to the farm than I had in my entire English course in Brazil. This improvement was instrumental in securing my position at Corteva Agriscience in Brazil right after returning home. My enhanced English skills are essential in my daily work and continue to be a valuable asset, driving my professional growth within the company.
The semester at the University of Minnesota provided unique learnings and friendships across the world. The cultural differences among students offered a great opportunity to learn about other countries besides the USA, build a diverse network of contacts, and expand my global perspective, which is important in many industries.
The combined hands-on experience and the semester at UoM make the MAST program stand out compared to other internship programs. I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the MAST program and strongly recommend it to friends and other students in Brazil.
