As Penn State reaches the midway point of the fall semester, the annual panic to secure an internship for the summer has slowly set in for many students. 

While hard to come by, the right internship can be vital for gaining experience in a student’s desired industry and laying the groundwork for future job opportunities after graduation. 

This past summer, Penn State third-year Mohammad Alkout got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for the United Nations (UN) as an intern representing his country of Kuwait. The internship provided him with first-hand industry experience and granted him the unique opportunity to advocate for Kuwait.

Growing up, Alkout had an affinity for politics. From running for class president and participating in his school’s Model UN program, he capitalized on every opportunity to lead his community. Considering this lifelong passion for civic engagement, Alkout said being accepted as an intern to the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait at the UN was a gratifying, full-circle moment.

“Since childhood, I have been passionate about politics and excited by any opportunities in this field. I always pursued leadership and political roles in high school, so transitioning to real-world experiences was a logical step for me,” Alkout said. “A memorable moment was attending the UN General Assembly for the first time, an especially significant experience because I used to watch it on TV, and now I was participating in meetings. Being in the room with diplomats and representatives at the UN, and contributing to discussions was so fulfilling.” 

Throughout his internship, Alkout quickly realized that his high school’s Model UN was vastly different from the real deal. He was thrown headfirst into the high-stakes diplomacy of an international agency, as he attended meetings with Kuwait ambassadors, wrote reports on decisions made by fellow diplomats, and participated in high-level negotiations. 

Instead of buckling under pressure, Alkout saw this demanding schedule as an opportunity for personal growth. He said despite the learning curve to be mastered during his first few weeks as an intern, the experience taught him the importance of personal perseverance and adaptability. 

“One of the main challenges was adapting to the fast-paced environment of global diplomacy. The workload was a lot, with tight deadlines and high expectations for accuracy in report writing for meetings,” Alkout said. “However, this experience taught me adaptability, which is such an important trait for anyone pursuing a career in international relations. These experiences were immensely educational, allowing me to learn and apply my academic knowledge in real-world scenarios.”

While Penn State resides in the middle of rural Pennsylvania, the university has an impressive reach and prestigious recognition around the globe. Alkout said his undergraduate education in Happy Valley is what allowed him to excel during his time at the UN.

At Penn State, he learned the proper background knowledge in politics and economics to understand the inner workings of the organization. Also, Alkout’s leadership experience and communication skills developed from involvement on campus allowed him to confidently collaborate with other diplomats to represent Kuwait.

“Penn State’s strong reputation, recognized globally, played a big role in getting my internship. Several classes at Penn State contributed to the success at the United Nations. My courses in macroeconomics helped me understand global economic trends, while sociology and philosophy classes expanded my perspective on ethical considerations in diplomacy,” Alkout said. “Serving as the Vice President of Chi Epsilon, the honor society for civil engineering, prepared me for the collaborative aspects of the internship. Interacting with students from diverse backgrounds at Penn State, which has students of many nationalities, also improved my communication skills.” 

During his internship, Alkout learned how to properly network and form connections with high-level politicians, as he spoke with representatives from across the world. He also gained a better understanding of the mechanisms of global diplomacy, and how policy is thoroughly negotiated before it’s agreed upon. Since Alkout is pursuing a major in civil engineering & economics, he hopes to connect this experience to his professional development in every way he can. 

The internship reignited his love for international diplomacy, expanded his political knowledge, and strengthened Alkout’s connection to his Kuwait ancestry and cultural roots. He said having the chance to contribute to his country’s political advancement and advocate for his friends and family back home was an extremely gratifying experience. 

“Being able to represent Kuwait helped me connect more deeply with my national identity while working towards benefiting both my country and the international community,” Alkout said. “It was an honor to serve my country as part of the team that advocated for Kuwait’s interests, reinforcing a sense of national pride. My family saw my internship at the UN as a significant achievement. This support was crucial because it motivated me to excel and make the most of the opportunity, knowing I had a strong backing from home cheering on my every step.”

This summer, Alkout plans to return to this UN internship with a fresh perspective on how to sharpen his reporting and negotiation techniques. Most importantly, he can’t wait to meet the next cohort of interns, act as a mentor, and show them how to navigate the intimidating world of global politics.

“I plan to build on the foundation I’ve established this year when I return this summer. One of the key things I’ll focus on is deepening my understanding of specific issues, particularly those affecting Kuwait. I’m also looking forward to applying the feedback I received from this year’s internship to improve my skills in writing formal reports back to the ministry in Arabic,” Alkout said. “Another aspect I’m excited about is the opportunity to meet the new interns, and guide them through their first exposure to international diplomacy.”

Looking to the future, Alkout plans to transform this impressive internship with the UN into a long-term professional path in world politics. He hopes to pursue a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Kuwait and utilize his new wealth of knowledge in diplomacy and leadership to thrive in this dream role.