From Learning to Leading: Navigating an Inclusive Theme Park Internship
When it comes to understanding an internship’s true value, nothing beats direct experience. Supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: CareER Thriving Grass Career Development Program 2025 (Thriving Grass), a young professional with hearing loss recently completed an internship at a major theme park in Hong Kong. This hands-on role offered exposure to Technology and Digital teams, providing real insights into data management and digital product development. With workplace accommodations like auto-captioned meetings and AI-generated summaries, accessibility and productivity were ensured. The internship developed not only technical skills but also communication, collaboration, and problem-solving — within an inclusive environment backed by CareER’s support.
A Journey of Learning and Collaboration
The individual, a junior studying Computer Engineering and Artificial Intelligence at a leading university, was introduced to Thriving Grass through their institution’s special educational needs advisor. The program’s job matching and interview preparation workshops connected them with an ideal role aligned with their career goals.
During the internship, responsibilities included managing data requests across various business units. In a large organization, data is spread over numerous systems, often without clear documentation. This required ongoing communication to clarify requirements, locate appropriate datasets, and format data for usability. This process developed patience, clarity in communication, and collaboration skills.
Beyond daily tasks, opportunities to engage in team activities like inter-department dragon boat races fostered a strong sense of team spirit and belonging, enriching the overall internship experience and supporting workplace inclusion.
Overcoming Challenges and Building Confidence
An early challenge was quickly learning Power BI software without prior experience. By actively seeking online resources and applying new skills immediately to support projects, the individual demonstrated adaptability and resolve. They went on to master advanced SQL and additional tools, significantly boosting technical competence.
The internship revealed the complexity of real-world work environments where data is often unstructured compared to academic settings. It highlighted the importance of teamwork and effective communication in problem-solving. Such insights refined career aspirations in data and technology fields and built confidence in their contributions.
Typical Technology Internship Responsibilities
Technology internships at theme parks often involve contributing to real-world projects in software development, technical support, systems engineering, and digital product management. Interns collaborate with experienced teams on data analysis, developing tools to improve operational efficiency, and supporting technology infrastructure. These roles help build a range of technical skills while encouraging problem-solving, teamwork, and communication with diverse business stakeholders — all contributing to enhancing guest experiences and the smooth operation of the park.
Inclusion and Encouragement for Future Talents
The experience underscores that hearing loss does not limit one’s ability to collaborate or perform effectively. Transparent communication and thoughtful accommodations enable full participation and success. The story encourages peers in CareER to embrace opportunities without hesitation, as each step leads to discovery and growth. Thriving Grass continues to foster inclusive internships across diverse sectors, including the dynamic theme park industry in Hong Kong, cultivating environments where talent and diversity thrive side by side.