When Wala first decided to pursue a London internship for international students, her motivation was simple: find an opportunity to expand the pursuit of her passion in architecture in the UK. But life, as it turns out, had something more in store for her. Against the odds, she secured an internship with a London-based firm thanks to support from Capital Placement. Her life trajectory after her university degree was forever changed.
As inspiring as Wala’s internship story is, her pre-internship story carries just as much weight. It offers a glimpse into her love for the arts, nurtured from a young age when she first learned to draw and take pictures. Years later, she would choose to explore more opportunities outside her hometown and expand her horizon. We share an in-depth look at Wala’s journey toward becoming the international student success story in London that we can all be inspired by.
The Journey of the Artistic Girl from Qatif
With a warm smile, kind eyes, and a confident attitude, a now 24-year-old Wala is probably a far cry from her childhood self. Growing up around her family and siblings in the East side of Qatif in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Wala, had a normal childhood. She was quiet and always had a deep interest in the arts, drawing on her sketch pad whenever she got the chance, and wanting to embrace the beauty of the world beyond her small town.
“I discovered my artistic skills as a child, around 9 years old,” she explained. Thankfully, after participating in an art competition when she was 17, she learned she could put herself and her art out there. Her love for art and creativity drove her to study Architecture.
“I wanted to study something that I could express my creativity. It was either Architecture or Interior Design. But Architecture was my first choice.”
Wala was determined to see her dreams through. While researching universities to study back home after high school, she discovered she couldn’t find “Architecture” as a singular degree. So, she explored options outside of Saudi. The prospect was tempting. Despite being quiet, Wala has always seen the world in a grander sense.
“I knew the world was big, I wanted to explore who I am. I wanted to go through that journey.”
Wala soon found herself in Manchester studying toward a degree in Architecture. A few years later, despite the COVID pandemic, in 2022, Wala would graduate with first-class honours from the University of Salford, Manchester, with her parents and grandparents in attendance.
The Road To Internship Abroad Isn’t Paved
It is no secret that internship opportunities in London for non-EU students are tough. Only a small percentage of international students get jobs to remain in the UK after their studies. For Wala, as enticing as the idea of heading back home was (having studied in the UK since she was 18), she was more open to gaining more international work experience in her field.
She was determined to get the best internships in London for career growth. With scholarship support from the Misk Foundation in collaboration with Capital Placement, Wala interned at Mangera Yvars Architects in London, becoming our international student success story in London.
Although she studied in Manchester, moving to London was a significant step for Wala. “London is chaotic and sometimes not the safest,” she explained. But she never let any of that discourage her. Wala, it turns out, is hardly one to be discouraged. When most of her friends moved back home during the COVID-19 pandemic, she chose to stay behind.
“I think I made the right decisions. I was also trying to live in the moment. Not being afraid of what was coming next.”
In the noiselessness of the pandemic, observing everything, and taking things easy, she learned to love herself and find peace within. She aced her first year at the University. She also explored her artistic side by volunteering as a photographer within her Muslim community. In no time, she was creating artistic designs of Arabic calligraphy on face masks that went viral.
Where others see an obstacle, she sees growth opportunities. Thus, when it came to turning an internship into a career in London, it felt like a no-brainer.
The Importance of the Right Attitude
International internship experience for Saudi nationals isn’t as documented as it should be, making Wala’s story necessary. Speaking on how she approached pursuing an internship and moving to a big city, she says:
“I sort of saw it like I was one of those independent women out in the big city, chasing their dreams.” She chuckled. “I saw myself as more responsible.”
She created a plan for her goals and worked diligently to achieve them. Wala chose to put her best foot forward. She viewed her internship as a real job and not just a mere passage of time while waiting for the next thing.
“I took it seriously which helped me secure the full-time position.”
In the short time of her internship at the firm, she actively worked on roughly twelve (12) projects, two of them being major ones. The company, Mandera Yvars Architects had projects centered around the Middle East. In a way, this made her feel closer to home.
Combining art and business in London isn’t easy but with the right attitude, Wala found a way to keep the balance. She saw art in everything she did. She saw beauty in life. She found excellence in her art and soon secured her first art exhibition in London.
The Value of Community and Hard Work
In her podcast feature, Wala highlights her typical day-to-day as an intern. Her experience speaks positively to the value of being matched with a company that aligns with your career goals and expectations, which Capital Placement ensures for all its internship candidates.
One of the most valuable aspects of an internship opportunity isn’t just the experience of working in your field of study. It’s also about helping you find the right community.
“I remember my colleagues they were so friendly and we’d sit on the same lunch table and eat together,” Wala recalled fondly. She found her little community within work and outside of it and it made her feel less alone while providing her the safety to be herself and give back to her community.
American author and motivational speaker, Wayne Dyer once said “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.” Wala embodied this ideal. She went from intern to a full-time job in London because of her love for going the extra mile. She worked hard and sometimes long hours without being asked to.
“If we have a deadline, I’ll push it too,” she explained on the podcast. “I wouldn’t feel like I’m not responsible for this, I’m just an intern. I just said, everyone is working so hard, they’re putting their all in, let me do the same because one day they’ll appreciate it.” But Wala also aptly clarifies that she did that not to appear diligent but to build her work ethic.
Life After Interning and the Road Ahead
After her internship, Wala got a full-time role offer at the Mandera Yvars Architects firm for a year. She was their first Saudi intern at the firm. Her supervisor Calliope Crystal during her internship speaks fondly of her.
Wala recently moved back home to Qatif for a bit but still works remotely on a part-time basis. She has also explored freelancing with some firms in Saudi. When asked about her plans for the future, Wala is optimistic despite some difficulties. “It’s not been easy, especially with the visa process. But I plan to work, save some money and push toward a master’s degree in the UK by September.”
When asked if she would change anything about her internship experience, she said. “I like to speak about my story in a positive light even though I have gone through a lot. I don’t like to be a victim because I’m always the survivor. I’m never the victim. If I said I wanted to change anything that would be my ego speaking and we’re not our ego, we are the pure light within us.”
A warm smile flashes across her eyes. Wala’s declaration “I’m always the survivor” speaks volumes about her. As one of our first in-person intern cohorts after the pandemic, we at Capital Placements are proud of her career and personal growth. Her story offers pointers to future candidates on how to land a job after an internship in London.
The internship-to-job placement pipeline isn’t easy. However, Capital Placement offers the same support to all our candidates as we did to Wala. So, if you are interested in summer internships in London for students or you want opportunities for paid internships in London for graduates, we are your sure stop to get you on the right path.
Wala’s story is one of the many success stories born from the right partnership. In the same way, Wala got her life-changing internship experience, you can too. All it takes is a little bravery, a little belief, a little hope, lots of hard work, and the desire to see the world, just like that artistic, quiet girl from Qatif.
