What happens when an internship teaches you something you weren’t expecting to learn?

For Alex Fleming ’27, a summer internship with ScholarRoam offered hands-on experience in marketing, design, outreach, and the day-to-day work of a growing startup. Along the way, Alex also learned something about the kind of work environment, leader, and entrepreneur he hopes to become.

Alex received funding through the CCPD to help make the internship possible. Here’s his take on what he learned from his summer with ScholarRoam:

“When I began my internship with ScholarRoam, I thought I knew what I wanted to learn. I expected to spend the summer developing my marketing skills, creating content, and seeing how a startup grows. I did all of those things, but looking back, the lessons that will stay with me most have much less to do with marketing. 

ScholarRoam is a startup focused on improving the study abroad experience for students. Throughout my internship, I worked on social media campaigns, branding and digital design, App Store launch materials, university outreach, and other projects aimed at helping the company grow. Working in a startup meant that my responsibilities often stretched beyond one role. I was trusted to make decisions, contribute ideas, collaborate with others, and figure things out without always having a step-by-step answer. 

That freedom taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I do my best work when I can be creative, but also that creativity needs organization and consistency to become something meaningful. I discovered how much I value collaboration and how working alongside people I genuinely connect with makes me better at what I do. 

Most importantly, ScholarRoam changed the way I think about success. I once associated entrepreneurship with constantly working more, moving faster, and sacrificing other areas of my life to build something. This summer showed me another way. I learned that meaningful progress can come from patience and consistency, and that taking time to genuinely connect with people is not separate from good leadership. It is part of it. 

I still hope to build a company of my own one day. Now, I have a clearer picture of the kind of company I would want to build: one that is ambitious without losing patience, creative without losing structure, and productive without losing sight of people. 

I came to ScholarRoam wanting to learn how to help build a company. I’m leaving with a better understanding of the kind of company, and leader, I someday hope to become.” – Alex Fleming ’27