Independence Does Not Mean Loneliness
By: Meghan McGlinchey (CAS ’26)
GRIP: World Medical Association, Ferney-Voltaire, France
Over the past nine weeks of my internship at the World Medical Association, independence has been a defining theme. Not only am I the only intern at the WMA, but I am also the only intern from GRIP in this general region, which has pushed me to adopt an entirely new form of self-sufficiency. I knew when I committed to this internship in Geneva, I wanted to take full advantage of its central location in Europe and after having solo-traveled to nine new countries and fifteen new cities, I can confidently say that I have done that. When I have told people that I am the only intern in my office or that I have been solo-traveling on the weekends for the past nine weeks, they often ask if it has been lonely; however, I have found it to be quite the opposite.
I have come to learn how special the working environment is at the World Medical Association; although I am the only intern in the small office, my colleagues have never made me feel like “just an intern.” Instead, they’ve made me and my contributions to their work feel welcome and appreciated since day one, which has given me the confidence to truly be myself around them and get to know them. Being the only intern has also been a hidden blessing. I’ve had the chance to spend meaningful one-on-one time with my colleagues — learning about their roles, exploring policy discussions, and getting personalized guidance. On top of that, my coworkers are constantly encouraging me to work on the projects that interest me the most. Whether it’s been attending WHO Webinars or reviewing and giving my input on WMA policies, the WMA has given me a profound sense of autonomy in my work, which has allowed me to gain an invaluable amount of knowledge on issues that interest me.
When it comes to solo-traveling, people often think it sounds intimidating or even isolating; however, I have found it to be one of the most transformative aspects of my summer. Traveling on my own allows me to do things at my own desire and pace – from snorkeling along the coast of Mallorca to taking a boat cruise along the canals of Amsterdam to paragliding and ziplining through the Swiss alps in Interlaken. Further, traveling by myself has also left an abundant amount of space for me to meet new people. Throughout the past nine weeks, I have met some truly incredible people from countries like Australia, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, and the UK – all of whom are also traveling the world on their own and looking to meet people along the way. From tapas nights in Spain to strolls through Portobello Market in London or gelato-fueled walks through the streets of Rome, I’ve formed short but extremely meaningful connections with people I would have never met otherwise.
Although it sounds counterintuitive, this independence – both at work and via travel – has actually made me more outgoing and open to forming new connections. Therefore, I can say with confidence: independence does not mean loneliness. In fact, it might be the very thing that helps us overcome it.