This summer I was among 30 Armenian students from nine countries participating in the AGBU Summer Intern Program. The program was established in 1987, and each summer it provides young Armenians with the opportunity to challenge themselves in one of the world’s most exciting professional environments.

The AGBU searches for positions in the Manhattan area that suit each student’s demands and professional goals. This summer’s jobs ranged from positions in the United Nations to NYU Medical Center and from Merill Lynch to everything in between.

For two months, the interns worked from nine to five learning the lessons of the professional world. All the interns came away from the program with a better understanding of professionalism, teamwork, responsibility and what it takes to meet one’s professional goals.

In my particular experience, I worked at the NYU medical center as part of a research team searching for techniques to improve the abilities of developmentally delayed children. My supervisor was always ready to help me and to give me the opportunity to develop the skills that would set the foundation for my future aspirations.

Aside from professional work experience, the program also provided social, educational and cultural activities on current Armenian topics and issues. Dr. George Bournoutian, professor of history at Iona University, gave two lectures on Armenian history, while others spoke about Armenian art, architecture, culture and present day issues of the country of Armenia.

The AGBU also organized trips to the many art museums of New York and a tour of the United Nations, where we were exposed to the UN charter at work during the Kosovo crisis.

The interns were also the special guests of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese for a dinner and tour of St. Vartan Cathedral. The Cathedral also played host to the interns, as they, along with the rest of New York, commemorated the passing of the Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I. In a ceremony, many top religious and political figures, including Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, made special comments about their acquaintance with the head of the Armenian Church.

As young adults living in New York, working was not the only thing on the intern’s minds. Together with the new friends they made, the interns lived up the New York life. Everyday there was so much going on we had so many choices of what we could do each day. Going out to clubs, Broadway shows like "Cabaret," "Miss Saigon" and "Cats," TV shows like "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Late Night with Conan O’Brien" and the "Today Show," or just out to dinner and bars, the interns lived each day to the fullest.

Sightseeing was also a major part of the program. The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, Central Park, the Empire State Building and World Trade Center were no longer visions seen on TV, but reality.

Many of the interns found themselves becoming New Yorkers. Images of the subway lines are imbedded in our brains, we cheered for the Knicks during the NBA finals and rooted for the Yankees in Yankee Stadium. We learned the entire Manhattan area from downtown to uptown. One could say that we survived the New York experience and loved every moment of it. However, the best part of the summer program was the new friends made. The group got along like we were all best friends. We did activities together and really learned a lot about one another. Each week when people left, huge good-bye parties were thrown and pacts were made to visit one another any chance there is. Each of us has formed a network of friends all over the United States and abroad. Once away from them, constant letters, telephone calls and e-mails connect us together again.

The AGBU New York Summer Internship program was a positive experience in every aspect of the trip. I find myself ready to enter the professional world with the skills I learned, I learned much about my culture, lived the exciting life of New York and met life long friends from around the world.