2008 alumna recognized as world-traveler intern

Within 36 hours of receiving her diploma from IU, 2008 alumna Lindsay Clark set off to travel to Europe, Asia and Africa for seven months on what she called her “big journey.”

From documenting her adventures through video blogs and photography, Clark will be recognized with the opportunity of a lifetime with the world’s largest youth travel agency, Student Travel Agency. The agency chose Clark out of 780 applicants for a job as its world-traveler intern this summer.

Applicants were required to produce three-minute video applications, a resume and blog samples explaining why they would be the best candidates for the position, and Clark’s work was far from ordinary.

After committing herself to four months of making a concept for her video, Clark went through 10 or 11 different drafts, using 330 different clips to form her concept of the perfect video that represented her personality and ambition.

“This job, what you are asking someone to do, is what I do already, not because I have to, but because I can’t stop,” Clark wrote in her introduction for her video entry.

Clark went with the concept that she has a vast amount of experience already in traveling and documenting her experiences with different cultures and that she was ready to take on the task at hand.

“I approached it thinking, ‘What do I want them to walk away knowing?’” Clark said, answering her question, “That I had mad experience and that I was highly creative, and a lot of people didn’t approach it that way.”

By scanning her iPod for ideas through her music, Clark was able to bring her entire work together.

“No matter how wonderful your pictures are and how intriguing your voice is, sometimes that doesn’t pull you in,” Clark said.

Although Clark has traveled throughout the world to countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia and Denmark, she said she is excited to go back and have new experiences in each country.

Clark said she found a number of resources along the way that helped her get through the different countries on her own, from food along the side of the road to motorbike rides that were less than a dollar. 

As for planning out her trips, Clark said she let her instincts take her to where she wanted to go and made some decisions by tossing a coin.

Patrick Evans, marketing communications coordinator at Student Travel Agency, said Clark was chosen, along with fellow Student Travel Agency world-traveler intern Chris Danner, because they were entertaining yet informative and engaging with their documenting techniques. 

Evans said the two interns will immerse themselves in the different cultures. They will produce blogs and photos that are geared for people who are interested in traveling to relate with when they plan trips with the Student Travel Agency Travel program, which targets students and young professionals in the field. 

Evans said Clark’s experience with going to more than 37 countries was “quite amazing for someone her age.” He said she had a personality many could relate to and that she would be able to handle the grueling trip, documenting experiences in 10 countries within 11 weeks.

“We knew she would be able to go out into the field on her own and would really be able to stay professional and keep organized,” Evans said