Muhammad Waraich ’25 was first drawn to Rhodes College by the prospect of small class sizes, supportive professors, and a beautiful campus. Once at Rhodes, the international studies and history major has also enjoyed the benefits of internship opportunities and fulfilling programs. With support from the Office of Career Services and the Department of International Studies, the New Jersey native has gained experience in places as close to home as New York City and as far away as Tokyo, Japan.
As part of Rhodes’ New York program, Waraich interned with the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, a nongovernmental organization that supports nuclear disarmament efforts at the United Nations. He spent his semester either at the foundation’s corporate office or inside the United Nations headquarters, where he engaged with diplomats to support a resolution on victim assistance and environmental remediation for communities affected by nuclear weapons. “Prior to my internship, I knew very little about nuclear disarmament, but now it has become one of my major academic interests,” says Waraich.
Eager to pursue more internship opportunities, he applied for and received the Buckman International Internship Award through the international studies department, allowing him to spend the summer of 2024 in the international destination of his choice. With one of Waraich’s key academic interests being East Asia, Tokyo was a natural decision. He interned at YouMeWe, a nonprofit in the heart of the city that supports orphanages across Japan. In addition to working in the organization’s communications department, Waraich and his fellow interns volunteered at a local orphanage, where they taught weekly lessons on subjects like career development. In his free time, he visited historic sites across the country and explored the beautiful Japanese countryside, including climbing Mt Fuji.
Although the language barrier was challenging, Waraich found the experience incredibly rewarding. “I was able to meet a lot of volunteers from all over Tokyo,” he says. “It was an inspiring group to work with.”
Back on campus, Waraich is putting to use the invaluable insights he has gained. He currently serves as the co-president of the college’s chapter of Amnesty International, which hosts events related to human rights issues in collaboration with the international studies department. Studying abroad gave Waraich a taste of global advocacy and insight into the level of impact that international service projects can have. “My internship experiences at Rhodes have confirmed that I want to see more of the world as I continue to pursue my career goals,” he says.
He also encourages all Rhodes students to take advantage of off-campus or study abroad opportunities. “What we learn academically and what we learn in the workplace can be quite different. By taking part in internships, you can fill that gap. The internships I have done these last few years have allowed me to develop a much clearer understanding of my future goals, and a global perspective which will propel me towards opportunities far beyond Rhodes.”
