Peter Covino

Peter Covino, from Massachusetts, USA, participated in a mechanical engineering internship through the VACorps gap year program from January to March 2025. He will begin his studies at Elon University in the fall of 2025.

I chose Cape Town because it was so far from home. It’s a developing nation nearly 20 hours away, and that distance represented a big change for me. But this year has been about trying new things and stepping outside my comfort zone—so I went for it. I don’t think I fully processed what that lifestyle shift would mean when I had my final conversation with Oliver and made the decision.

During my time here, I’ve learned so much—though it’s hard to put it all into words. I’ve grown a lot as a person, mostly from living with people who are very different from me and navigating life in a completely foreign environment. For the first time, I’ve been cooking for myself, shopping for groceries, and managing day-to-day life independently. Traveling in the fall helped build my confidence and life skills, but nothing compares to this experience.

I’m a much different person now than when I arrived, and this program has been incredibly impactful for my personal growth. I feel so much more ready for college life now that I’ve been through VACorps.