One of the greatest blessings of Cumorah Academy is the people who make it come alive.
Talented, gifted individuals from all over the world bring their skills, stories, and hearts to campus—and among them are our interns.
An internship at Cumorah Academy is more than a professional stepping stone; it’s a deeply human experience that shapes how future leaders see themselves and others.
Interns are often the eyes, arms, and hearts of student life. They mentor, listen, encourage, and lead by example. Their influence is felt not only in classrooms and workshops, but also in quiet conversations that change lives.
One of those interns was Anna Gumenyuk from Ukraine.
From Global Stages to a Mission-Driven Campus
Anna didn’t arrive at Cumorah Academy without experience. In fact, her résumé already included some of the world’s most recognizable stages.
“I was juggling two degrees—Business Administration and Social Work—while working on some of the biggest stages in the world,” she shared.
One of those stages was Eurovision, one of the most famous music competitions on the planet.
Yes, that Eurovision, the one that launched ABBA into global fame.
Anna worked behind the scenes in that high-pressure, high-visibility environment. She also worked with UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), a name every football fan instantly recognizes.
On paper, Anna was thriving. But internally, things were more complicated.
When Success Doesn’t Feel Like Success
Despite her accomplishments, Anna was struggling with self-acceptance.
“On paper, I was ‘achieving,’ but internally, I was struggling,” she said. “I have a very open, high-energy personality, and I often worried that people thought I was being ‘fake’ because of how much I cared.”
In professional spaces, she felt pressure to dial herself down—to be quieter, less expressive, less herself. That tension followed her as she stepped into her internship at Cumorah Academy, where she joined the Winter 2025 semester as a Wellness Intern.
Choosing the Human Side of Leadership
Anna’s academic and professional background was rooted in global brand partnerships and communications. But for her, leadership was never just about strategy or visibility.
“I’ve always been drawn to the human side of business and management,” she explained. “I wanted to understand how we actually support people on a personal level.”
Her internship at Cumorah Academy gave her space to explore that calling. As a Wellness Intern, she worked closely with students, supporting their emotional growth, mental resilience, and personal development.
What surprised her most wasn’t a major event or formal workshop—it was the power of presence.
The Quiet Moments That Change Everything
“The most impactful moments weren’t the big events,” Anna said. “They were the quiet, late-night conversations with students.”
She learned that listening—truly listening—was a superpower. In those moments, leadership looked less like directing and more like holding space.
During one workshop, Anna made a choice that would mark a turning point in her journey. Instead of holding back, she showed up fully as herself—energetic, open, expressive.
The response stunned her.
“Instead of people thinking I was ‘fake,’ they told me my energy was exactly what they needed to feel safe and seen.”
For the first time, she realized her openness wasn’t a weakness. It was her greatest strength.
That realization became one of the defining lessons of her internship at Cumorah Academy.
Redefining Leadership From the Inside Out
Cumorah Academy didn’t just change how Anna showed up—it changed how she understood leadership itself.
“I had a massive realization: I want to help people. Period.”
Leadership, for her, shifted from managing projects to empowering people. She no longer saw global business leadership as cold or corporate, but as a platform to elevate stories that matter.
Through her internship at Cumorah Academy, Anna discovered that internal peace and self-acceptance are not distractions from success—they are foundations for it.
Life After Cumorah Academy: Leadership on a Global Scale
After the Winter semester, Anna’s career took off in a way that felt aligned not just with her skills, but with her soul.
She is now a Communications Young Professional at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Geneva.
The confidence she gained during her internship at Cumorah Academy allows her to show up authentically in one of the world’s most high-level professional environments. She no longer hides her personality.
Instead, she uses her openness to build strategic collaborations and amplify stories of human rights and multilateralism.
She carries one lesson daily: by accepting the light within herself, she can reflect that light onto the most vulnerable populations in the world.
Why Interns Like Anna Matter
Anna’s story is a powerful example of what happens when talent meets purpose. She has a natural ability to make others feel included, face challenges with courage, and lead with empathy.
Her journey shows that an internship at Cumorah Academy is not just about gaining experience—it’s about becoming the kind of leader the world needs.
She even reflected further on her campus experience in a thoughtful article.
Ready to Start Your Own Leadership Journey?
If you’re looking for more than a résumé boost—if you want an experience that challenges you, grounds you, and helps you grow as a leader and a human being—an internship at Cumorah Academy may be your next step.
Join a global community. Learn to lead with purpose. Discover strengths you didn’t know you had.
Apply today and take the first step toward leadership that truly matters.
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
