The unique Intex internship returned this summer, offering Whittier students an immersive 10 weeks with the Chinese manufacturing company.
Started by alumnus Tien Zee ’61, the program exclusively hires Whittier College students to work at its customer support center in Xiamen, China, while participating in a cultural exchange. This year’s cohort featured Naia Watkins ’27, Luisa Calcada ’26, Brody Haney ’27, and Rocio Muñoz ’27.
It was the first time students traveled to China for the internship since the pandemic. It was perfect timing for Watkins, who transferred from the East Coast back to Southern California during her junior year to be closer to family. A Whittier Scholars Program student, she studies literacy advocacy through business and is completing a Chinese minor.
“I knew I wasn't going to be able to study abroad, but I still wanted to do something with my Chinese minor, so the internship was perfect,” Watkins said.
After three weeks of training — which involves interns learning the ins and outs of Intex’s many products such as spas and air beds — the students primarily work at a customer support call center. The Whittier interns help their Chinese counterparts practice English, and, in return, the Chinese students instruct the Whittier students on Chinese culture.
“Everybody was so welcoming, more than I thought they were going to be,” said Watkins, who especially enjoyed sightseeing and hanging out with her Chinese peers as part of the experience. “They were proud to share everything with us, it was really nice.”
Double business and Chinese major Andrew Lara ’16 completed the internship as a student and now works as Intex’s North American assistant marketing manager in Long Beach after six years in Xiamen.
"It was a scary time going into the workforce after graduating,” Lara said. “Whittier made it easy with its opportunities that landed me in China and the company I still work with."
The Intex internship program will celebrate its 10th anniversary next summer. Applications open in late November. Visit Whittier.edu/careers/internships/intex for more information and to apply.
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