Participant Stories
David Celjuska
AIPT Participant Hooked on the International Experience
From Spring 2006
David Celjuska wanted to work on a number of things when he first arrived at AIPT in 2001 for his 12-month internship as a Web developer and programmer. For one, he wanted to improve his English, which he says with a smile, was “not great.” But, for another he wanted to improve his driving. “I had a license,” says Celjuska, “but we in Eastern Europe do not drive that much as you guys do.” This was just one of the first major differences between Slovakia – Celjuska’s native country – and the United States. Small things also were different, he mentions, like eating pizza with one’s hands rather than using silverware. “It was hard to estimate what the new life in the United States would be like,” he says. “I was very excited, but I was worried, too. But, it turned out to be my best experience ever so far in my life. I was meeting new people and working for an international organization. I loved it.”
Of course, a main reason for Celjuska leaving his home country to work abroad was to gain experience for his resume. He credits his uncle, who he describes as “very open-minded,” as someone who urged him to gain global experience. Celjuska recalls, “He told me that I should gain international experience to safeguard my future career.”
Celjuska’s exchange was through IAESTE, working with the communications, marketing and business development department of AIPT. His training encompassed the many tasks of a Web developer, engaging him with the responsibilities involved in developing and maintaining AIPT's Web site. Many of the Web site’s enhancements made during his stay are still in use today. “I enhanced the Web site with communities sections, including live chat functionality and a photo album. Later on, I developed a Webinar and the Jessica King Scholarship donation Web site,” he notes. “It’s a great feeling that what we set-up during years 2001-2002 is still up and running in the same or similar fashion.”
David also credits AIPT staff for making his internship a good one. “Everyone at AIPT had previous experience abroad, which made them very tolerant and easy going with internationals like me,” remarks David. “I know now that sometime my behavior just had to be seen ‘odd’ to many of them just because of cultural differences. But, professionally, not only could I practice my PHP and my SQL skills, I also was pulled in to the whole AIPT world [during my internship]. I did not feel like I was just a trainee. I was attending meetings, I was cooperating with people and I think my opinion counted.”
If other potential trainees are hesitant to go abroad, Celjuska says, “Just do it! You do not know unless you try. I would never have improved my English, learned about American culture, gained more self-confidence, visited so many places or came across such great things as improvisational theater, if I hadn’t.”
And, his internship abroad certainly helped his career. “Not many students have done what I have and this made my resume quite outstanding. I think even four years later I am still benefiting from it,” says Celjuska.
After leaving the United States, with his English vastly improved, Celjuska took another internship in the United Kingdom where he spent half a year working in a lab for British Telecom as a research assistant in 2004. Now, for the last year, Celjuska has been java programming for Ness Europe, the global IT company in Prague, Czech Republic.
The exchange program changed his life not only professionally, but it expanded his horizons. “I met so many great people with whom I am still in contact and who I meet from time to time in different places in Europe, which is great,” Celjuska adds. But he says he misses the diverse international environment of working abroad. Still something tells us he’ll be visiting other countries again…and again.
