I am the first Communication intern to work remotely from start to end. At first, I was very concerned about my job, especially how I would communicate with my colleagues and supervisor. However, I always tried my best to look on the positive side; for this internship specifically, this meant I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and make the most of this unique reality.

I majored in Communications for my bachelor's degree and was hoping to get an internship in the same field. Luckily, my college advised me to apply for a position in the ASEAN Foundation. As this was my first internship ever, I was very worried that my CV would be lacking. Now, looking back on the journey, I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience this incredible internship at the ASEAN Foundation.

I think I am probably the first intern to work remotely from start to end. At first, I was very concerned about my job, especially about how I would communicate effectively with my colleagues and supervisor. However, I always tried my best to look on the positive side; for this internship specifically, this meant I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and make the most out of this unique reality.

Contrary to my worries, my remote internship went smoother than I’d expected. My supervisor and seniors guided me throughout the entire process. Everyone was so helpful and great. They responded to my messages quickly and kept a steady flow of communication, even though we couldn’t talk face-to-face.

As I began to adapt, I started to acquire new knowledge and improve on my skills. Since I already had a passion for writing, coming up with captions and writing stories became a fun job for me. As Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Being a part of the Communication team opened my eyes to the intricacy of internal and external communication, with “external” meaning the viewers and participants, and “internal” meaning my colleagues and supervisor. I realized that the way you communicate changes according to whom you are communicating.

All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better internship experience. The ASEAN Foundation internship was a place where I could do something I enjoy, while constantly being challenged and stimulated.